American Thinker Blog
September 30, 2005
Secret Republicans
Jay Homnick writes a fascinating essay today at The American Spectator on two topics he thinks are closely related: secret Republican voters and fiscal discipline. He identifies a vast segment of the Republican frequent voters, those people who do not publicly... More
September 30, 2005
Richard Baehr speech webcast now available
The speech Richard Baehr gave to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, whose transcript we published yesterday, is now available for viewing online. It is in two parts, and is accessible here, along with comments by Senator Lieberman, Mayor Giuliani,... More
September 30, 2005
No looter guy in Texas
The image of a New Orleans looter carrying a tub of Heineken beer has become an icon of the lawless chaos in that community, and even inspired a website. For some reason or other, no such images have emerged from Texas.... More
September 30, 2005
More controversy over Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine
One of America's strongest allies in the war on terror is the middle of a growing legal debate that has major implications for diplomatic relations across Asia. Two conflicting court decisions in Tokyo and Osaka have pushed Japan's Prime Minister... More
September 30, 2005
Fox News under threat?
Frank Gaffney picks up on a securities transaction that is raising alarm bells among conservatives, in Front Page Magazine. Saudi Prince Al—Waleed bin Talal has purchased a 5.46% share in the voting equity of the parent of Fox News, News... More
September 30, 2005
Machisma
David Gelernter identifies and names a plague which has engulfed America over the last few decades: "machisma." The feminine counterpart of machismo is a mirror—image form of bullying, basically the requirement that someone share his or her feelings. Picking up... More
September 30, 2005
Ed Lasky on the air
Ed Lasky, who plays a major behind—the—scenes role at AT, wrote a great two—part series on meritocracy in America. Today, Ed will be a guest on the Jerry Doyle show, which is syndicated to 220 radio stations throughout the United... More
September 30, 2005
Template watch
Mediacrity has begun a new feature clled "template watch" cataloguing what does and doesn't make the pages of the New York Times, unaccountably still regarded as "the newspaper of record" among those who don't much attention to facts. It looks... More
September 30, 2005
The newest FDNY chaplain
The latest person appointed to be a chaplain of the New York Fire Department embraces the lunatic assertion that the collapse of the World Trade Center, which killed so many brave firemen, was an inside job, a conspiracy, in other... More
September 30, 2005
The Democrats' abortion problem
Amy Sullivan, an editor of the liberal Washington Monthly, writes in the liberal Boston Globe about all the havoc the pro—abortion (euphemistically called "choice") extremists are creating for the Democrats. She cites the disastrous NARAL ad against Chief Justice Roberts,... More
September 30, 2005
Harry Reid: middleman between crooks
Senator Harry Reid has gotten himself into a difficult position. Of colurse, the national media is uninterested in publicizing Democrat lapses, so don't look for anything resembling the feeding frenzy surrounding the trumped—up inductment of Tom Delay, when it comes... More
September 29, 2005
China's declining competitiveness
In recent months the mainstream media has been overflowing with articles discussing the economic threat that China poses to the global economy in industries ranging from textiles to autos. But according to a report recently released by the World Economic... More
September 29, 2005
If you think your phone company is bad...
If you think of your phone company as a fat monopoly that has stood in the way of fast home internet connections for at least a decade, well, you're right. On the other hand, for a good laugh check out... More
September 29, 2005
Osama's asylum request
The Times of London reports that in 1995 Osama Bin Laden sought asylum in Great Britain which was denied. HE CLAIMS to hate everything the West stands for. But yesterday it emerged that Osama bin Laden sought asylum in Britain... More
September 29, 2005
A favorite
Conservatives by definition respect tradition. Not all traditions are worth retaining, of course, but when they offer enduring values, they are to be treasured. The oldest restaurant in San Francisco, the Tadich Grill, is one such tradition. When I entertain... More
September 29, 2005
American higher education and the left
Bill Palmer, of Orange County, California, wrote us a thoughtful letter about Steven Warshawsky's article published here yesterday. It is worth sharing: Dear Editor, I enjoyed Mr. Warshowsky's article in the American Thinker. Three observations immediately come to mind. 1.... More
September 29, 2005
Victor Davis Hanson errs
Victor Davis Hanson, the incomparable historian and commentator, makes a small error today in an article today. He says: 'Russia, India and China are Iran's new apologists.' India!? I agree with the rest of the piece, but this reference to... More
September 29, 2005
Three-way marriages in the Netherlands
According to the Brussels Journal, polygamy has been legalized in the Netherlands and Belgium in all but name. Last Friday saw the first wedding of three people, a man and two women. However, the Netherlands recently confirmed its three—day waiting... More
September 29, 2005
Beltway Bloodsport
Here is Tom DeLay's win—spin at the end of his interview with Brit Hume the evening of 28 September: HUME: Tell me about the caucus today where the decision was made that Roy Blunt would step up to assume most... More
September 29, 2005
More on higher education and the left
Another letter about Steven Warshawsky's article yesterday is worth sharing. Sir: My Faculty colleague, Arthur Pontynen, sent me a copy of Mr. Warshawsky's prescient commentary in American Thinker for September 28. I think he is right on track, and arguing... More
September 29, 2005
Is there a reason why we have a Senate?
Chivalry is not dead. Isn't it comforting to know that the United States Senate is one of the few remaining bastions of chivalry? Where else could Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco go and receive kid glove treatment in the aftermath... More
September 29, 2005
The ancient jihad
Melanie Phillips recalls a bit of history the Islamofascists and their friends on the world left would rather forget: the kidnapping and enslavement of Western Christians in the name of jihad. Facts are stubborn things, though the airbrushers of the... More
September 28, 2005
Madrid: "Cuba, si; Yanqui, no"
Barcepundit discovers that Spain's socialist government (courtesy of the 3—11 train bombers) finds Cuba and Venezuela more accepatble than America, when it comes to military parades: REMEMBER THAT last year US troops were disinvited for the October 12 parade in... More
September 28, 2005
Another milestone for feminists
American feminists love to celebrate the "first woman" to smash all sorts of barriers. I await Patricia Ireland and Gloria Steinem commentary on this exploding of gender seterotypes. Hat tip: Lucianne.com Thomas Lifson 9 28 05... More
September 28, 2005
The lies accumulate rapidly at the NYT
The blogosphere is having a red letter day today pointing our the embarrassing behavior of the men and women paid substantial wages to put together the New York Times. Mediacrity deconstructs its fact—chellanged editorial today on the violence in Gaza.... More
September 28, 2005
Stand by your man's slurs
The Democratic National Committee is making an embarrassing slur of the President into something like official party doctrine. The New York Sun reports that the party declines to repudiate Charles Rangel's absurd comparison of President Bush to Bull Connor, the... More
September 28, 2005
New York Times corrections gone wild
The New York Times has been careening wildly in recent days with its corrections of false material it is caught publishing. Just the other day it created the concept of "figurative reference" (as opposed to "factual assertions") in its correction... More
September 28, 2005
NPR: "It's not my fault, man!"
Mike from Kennesaw, Georgia writes us about what he heard this morning on taxpayer—supported NPR: This morning, NPR aired a story ("Coroner: No Evidence of Evacuee Murders", ) that smells like an excuse for its false reporting of horrific crimes... More
September 28, 2005
Washington Post's difficulty with basic economics
Don Surber takes apart the basic economic errors of a silly Washington Post editorial on taxing gasoline, while at the same time getting in a dig at Paul Krugman, Enron consultant and economics professor at Princeton, at least when he... More
September 28, 2005
Japan's "secret" defense plans
As the glow of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's stunning victory in recent parliamentary elections fades away, a newly uncovered report from the country's defense department is bound to fan the flames of anti—Japan sentiment across the rest of Asia. ... More
September 28, 2005
The deterioration of the UK's MSM
Like many American conservatives, I tend to regard the UK newspaper industry as more diverse than our own. At least some of the major papers, the Telegraph and the Times, are overtly conservative, while the Independent and Guardian are reliably... More
September 28, 2005
Thank-you, Representative King
I owe Representative Steve King (R—Iowa) a personal thank—you. Congressman King rallied Republicans to defeat an effort to name the Berkeley Main Post Office for Maudelle Shirek, long an ultra—leftist member of the Berkeley City Council. The most left wing... More
September 28, 2005
Iran's Second Front stymied
The Times of India reported today what is a major victory over Iran in the Global War on Terror. India voted with the US, the EU, Japan, and several other countries on an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution to... More
September 28, 2005
That's me: the nightmare
It sounds like a bad joke but sure enough, Bolivia's leftist dictator wannabe, Evo Morales, seeking to join the Cuba—Venezuela axis of Marxism, declared his rabidly anti—American campaign platform to his pals in the castroite press this morning. Cuba's state—owned... More
September 27, 2005
IDF given green light for Gaza operations
The Jerusalem Post is reporting that the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is 'under no restrictions' in conducting both air and ground operations to halt terrorist rocket attacks on Israeli territory. Residents of Sderot and the western Negev were placed on... More
September 27, 2005
A New York Times Exclusive?
Today's New York Times reports something no other media outlet seems to have mentioned in its coverage of the conviction of Pvt. Lynndie England on several counts of abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison, in a story as related... More
September 27, 2005
Democrats in delusion
E. J. Dionne sees the "Democrats in disarray" today, in his Washington Post column of the same title. And he actually gets it right on a couple of points. But he can't quite put together the bigger picture. Although an intelligent... More
September 27, 2005
No Science, Please – We're British
The report that a hospital in West Yorkshire has banned visitors from cooing at new—born babies is, in fact, only the second dumbest thing the Brits have lately done. They've also removed science from the school curriculum. New regulations just announced... More
September 27, 2005
PC versus human nature
Some kind of milepost has been passed in the realm of political correctness, whereby one of the most powerful forces of nature — the natural human response to newborn babies — has been declared off—limits by a British hospital. That's... More
September 27, 2005
Excellent point
Just One Minute asks a very interestign question, in light of all the criticism the President has endured over Iraq and katrina: Its hard to believe we will see a wholesale revision of the Katrina story, but (and we are... More
September 26, 2005
Media lies confirmed
The lies have been spread all over the world, defaming America and sullying its president who is blamed by the same media spreading the lies. The death toll in New Orleans was exaggerated to a degree of magnitude impossible to... More
September 26, 2005
Shape of things to come
Whether the rank and file in the Republican party are out of touch with the leadership, or, as seems more likely from the gist of this piece over at The American Spectator, the leadership is faced with an increasingly vocal... More
September 26, 2005
A worried Democrat
Mark Shields, the Democrat CNN pundit/activist, is worried that the public has caught on to the fact that the Democrats are pawns of their interest groups. In explaining his opposition to Judge Roberts, Reid told the Senate he had been... More
September 26, 2005
Atta in Prague: the Spanish evidence
The strongest evidence of Iraqi complicity in 9/11 , the reports of the Czechs that Atta met in Prague with Iraqi intel prior to 9/11 were dismissed by the Commission on the basis of a jiggered timeline. Spain has a... More
September 26, 2005
LA Times bias bites back
In a piece explaining why Arnold Schwarzenegger excluded the Los Angeles Times from a round of interviews granted last week, the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz reports that Mike Murphy told a Times reporter in an e—mail: "I'm sorry to say... More
September 26, 2005
Ginsburg's offense
Jed Babbin makes the case that Justice Ginsburg's public comments require her to recuse herself from considering cases on abortion and opther issues. He cites the precedent of Justice Scalia. The problems in actually forcing such a recusal are enormous.... More
September 26, 2005
Awareness, not despair
Where Thomas Lifson sees despair I see dawning awareness. Isolated, the Katrina spending may be debatable as policy. But as a predictable pattern of spending it cannot be debated. The Administration's conservative approach is always theoretical, the currency spent is always hard... More
September 26, 2005
Kerry campaign killer coming today
A Film on Kerry's presidential campaign to be released this week. This should kill his chances for 2008. Lloyd Grove of the New York Daily News reports: I hear that John Kerry loyalists are kicking themselves for cooperating last year... More
September 26, 2005
The Pelican Project is for the Birds
With an obvious tin ear to the anger directed at the state's misuse of levee and Homeland Security funds and its pervasive corruption, the Louisiana congressional delegations has tagged on at least $10 billion in pure pork projects in its... More
September 26, 2005
Could federal prosecutors be after campaign funds?
Crain's Chicago Business reports on some interesting circumstances suggesting that federal prosecutors may be targeting the substantial campaign war chest of incumbent Illinois Governor Blagojevich. This would be a first, and raises some disturbing questions. It is all very speculative, but... More
September 25, 2005
Even Steyn
It is a rare day when I take issue with the great Mark Steyn. But The Master has given in to despair on the subject of President Bush's response to Katrina in his Chicago Sun—Times column today. He laments to... More
September 25, 2005
BBC spins for Bolivia's Marxists
BBC calling again, as usual, with a biased error betraying its true leftist agenda. This time, they were caught giving aid and succor to none other than Bolivia's Marxist Evo Morales' identified in Investor's Business Daily this week as Cuban... More
September 25, 2005
The real Hugo Chavez
In the past week, Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez gave a number of interviews to journalists, including Ted Koppel of Nightline and Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! Koppel did the best he could, and Goodman spent most of her time flattering... More
September 25, 2005
Reaction to Calame's rebuke
Common Sense Political Thought, a blog new to me, has a sensible and thoughtful reaction to the question I raised yesterday about the future job tenure of New York Times public editor Byron Calame, after his rebuke of the paper's... More
September 25, 2005
Black victims of crime
Many in the media and the Democratic Party spotlight black suffering only as a way to score political points against George Bush and the Republican Party. The media, in particular, routinely ignores black victims of crime and focuses attention only... More
September 25, 2005
Don't believe the media
Dr. Steven Lerner, a physician who dropped everything to fly to Louisiana in the wake of Katrina, writes in the Washington Post about his experience — which turned out to be a waste of time. Not because Bush failed at... More
September 25, 2005
The left continues to crumble
It is hard to believe that the Washington Post would publish such an attack as this. Even in a piece of opinion journalism. The writer accuises her neighbors, basically, of supporting Bush because they are in a panic, stupid ,... More
September 25, 2005
O'Reilly vs. Donohue
Last week, Phil Donohue was on the O'Reilly Factor, locked in a debate about Cindy Sheehan and the anti—war movement that has been Donahue's passion his entire career. 'Do you really want to send more young men and women to die in... More
September 24, 2005
Shame apparently works
Byron Calame, the New York Times' "public editor" has taken to the web and (apparently) print to upbraid Alessandra Stanley's lie about Geraldo Rivera, and opinion editor Gail Collins's failure to follow the Times policy on corrections. Calame has been... More
September 24, 2005
Mother Sheehan: Pay no attention to Rita! Look at me, me, me
Mother Sheehan has had with people paying too much attention to Hurricane Rita. Why, doesn't CNN realize that she sacrificed her only begotten son? She took to the Daily Kos site very quickly after addressing the "biggest rally in DC... More
September 24, 2005
Thanks are due
To George Soros and Teresa Heinz (the latter via the Tides Foundation) for funding today's "anti—war" rally. By all accounts running a tape of it will be all the advertising the Republicans will need to win the 2006 mid term... More
September 24, 2005
Fantasies of racism
Terry Michael, former press secretary for the Democratic National Committee, takes to task media and politicians who rush to pronounce racism as the explanation for so much at Real Clear Politics. A half century ago, right—wing zealots could see a... More
September 24, 2005
The paradox of fuel efficiency
Jeff Jacoby's excellent new article illustrates an important point about human behavior and buyer psychology. His main contention is that our national fuel consumption would not decrease even if vehicle fuel efficiency markedly improved. This may very well be true.... More
September 23, 2005
France steals our secrets
France's intelligence services target America, in order to steal our business and technology secrets, according to Colonel David Hunt, a retired senior officer in the CIA's Directorate of Operations. While perhaps unknown to the general public, this targeting of American... More
September 23, 2005
More Democrat hysteria
Charles Rangel, the Democrat Congressman from New York, continues the new party tradition of ludicrous comparisons of President Bush with historic symbols of evil: "Bush is our Bull Connor...." The New York Sun reports: Comparing President Bush to the Birmingham,... More
September 23, 2005
China's disaster death tolls remain secret
As President Bush gets blamed for the death toll of Hurricane Katrina, China continues to keep its own disaster death tolls secret, despite the ap[earance of reform. The South China Morning Post reports (paid subscription only): Beijing will not revise... More
September 23, 2005
NRA files suit to stop NoLa firearms seizures
Last week it was reported in the New York Times that New Orleans law enforcement officials had ordered that all private citizens would have their personal firearms confiscated. ABC News also reported that the New Orleans deputy police chief said... More
September 23, 2005
Muslim gagnsta rappers in France
Our frequent contirbutor Olivier Guitta has a startling article today on the Weekly Standard website about Muslim (and black) rappers in France, a nation with very strong anti—"hate speech" laws, usually used to suppress even mild criticism of Islam. Some... More
September 23, 2005
Widening income gap in China
The Wall Street Journal ($link) highlights the extensive recent domestic Chinese press coverage of growing social and political tensions arising out of the sustained rapid economic growth China has experienced. If the hand—wringing about income inequality in China translates into... More
September 23, 2005
Is the Senate the Land of Oz?
Democrat senators are more concerned with Roberts's heart than his head. What? Is Ameirca now the Land of Oz and is Roberts the Tin Man? Or does this just play to the Democrats who believe no Republicans have a heart?... More
September 23, 2005
Of all places....
The Boston Globe's Scot Lehigh takes to task Massachusetts senators Kerry and Kennedy for their opposition to the nomination of John Roberts. HOW SHOULD Senate Democrats respond to the example Ted Kennedy and John Kerry set Wednesday in declaring their... More
September 22, 2005
Getting the news out
Jeff Jacoby celebrates one man who has made a difference: blogger Arthur Chrenkoff, whose posting of the considrerable good news from Iraq has bypassed the mainstream media filter, which seeks only bad news. Ed Lasky 9 22 05... More
September 22, 2005
Suppose they had a telethon...
Imagine a Jerry Lewis telethon to support children killing children. Would you send in your money? No, don't bother. I know your answer. But not the Saudis, apparently. The Saudi Government—sponsored Iqra TV had a charitable telethon a few weeks... More
September 22, 2005
Hideous, yet oddly appropriate
The New York Sun reports that Hamas is planning to convert a former Synagogue to a weapons museum, featuring weapons used to murder innocent civillians. From a house of God to a charnel house.: Emboldened by Israel's withdrawal from Gaza... More
September 22, 2005
Missing headlines (continued)
Iraqi Forces Show Signs Of Progress In Offensive The Tall Afar offensive, which began Sept. 2, is the largest urban military operation in Iraq since November's siege of Fallujah. Unlike many previous joint offensives, however, it is the Iraqi army... More
September 22, 2005
Missing headlines (continued)
Household Net Worth Rises ($link) The net worth of American households climbed again in the second quarter, bolstering the ability of families to weather soaring energy prices. In its quarterly "flow of funds" report, the Federal Reserve said U.S. household... More
September 22, 2005
Thinking outside the box (a series)
Michael Barone continues to demonstrate that he is one of the most insightful thinkers in America. To meet the costs of Katrina (and now Rita?) he passes along a proposal from a public servant in Louisiana: sell bonds backed by future royalties... More
September 22, 2005
Hillary agrees to meet Mother Sheehan
The stranglehold of the left wing extremists on the Democratic Party is once again demonstrated int he decision of Hillary Clintoin to meet with moonbat Cindy Sheehan, coiner of the immortal phrase "occupied New Orleans." Front Page Magazine analyzes the situation.... More
September 22, 2005
Hollywood management
Edward Jay Epstien wants to believe that Hollywood studios are run by rational intelligent executives. But then he takes a look at some of the evidence to the contrary. And he does not neglect to mention the ket three—letter word:... More
September 22, 2005
One liberal who gets it
Mickey Kaus is one of the most honest and preceptive liberals in the public square. His latest posting at Slate takes on unions, and imagines liberalism without unions. If more liberals start thinking this way, there might be hope of... More
September 22, 2005
Never give Bush any credit
The New York Times editorializes on the Afghan situation, where a successful election was carried out for second time since the Taliban was ousted by America and its allies. But the Times does not credit America or, it seems. the Afghan people... More
September 21, 2005
Bobby Jindal on rebuilding
Congressman Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, who was narrowly defeated in his run for governor by the hapless Governor Blanco, demonstrates again why he is one of the most promising figures for the future of the Republicans in an op—ed in... More
September 21, 2005
The French are practicing eugenics
France shows signs of understanding that the trend toward educated and professional career women avoiding motherhood can be fatal to the life of a nation, a point our own Herb Meyer superbly made in his DVD, The Seige of Western... More
September 21, 2005
Jet Blue lands safely at LAX
What a joy to see Jet Blue #292 land safely at LAX with its front landing gear 90 degrees out of alingnment. Even though I have been a very frequent flyer for over 3 decades, I still experience a slight... More
September 21, 2005
Do greenies have a sense of irony? How about shame?
Surely I'm not alone noticing that there is an Irony Meter somewhere, pegged out. For decades "environmentalists" fought to prevent New Orleans' levee projects on the basis of irreversible damage to Lake Pontchartrain's eco—system. How many decades it will take to... More
September 21, 2005
China-Japan conflict over oil heats up
While much of America's attention has been focused on hurricanes, the Supreme Court, the close German election and unpredictable North Korea, Japan and China have continued their fighting over natural resources beneath the East China Sea. Both of these economic... More
September 21, 2005
North Korean nuke deal
Austin Bay has an insightful analysis on Real Clear Politics of the recently—announced deal with North Korea to, well, continue to negoatiate to end its nuclear weapons program. A nuclear—armed, impoverished rogue in one of the planet's most economically productive... More
September 21, 2005
Another left wing paper supports Roberts
The San Francisco Chronicle joins the Los Angeles Times in endorsing John Roberts as the nation's next Chief Justice. But is has the appearance of a tactical retreat, inspired by a desire to oppose whomever is nominated for the vacant... More
September 21, 2005
Maryland Democrats' dirty tricks
Threatened by a black Republican, Maryland Dems engage in some black—bag type of operations to break the law and get a credit report on prospective Senate candidate Michael Steele. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said Tuesday that two of its... More
September 20, 2005
Kerry cashes in
John F. Kerry is using email and a speech to attack President Bush on Katrina and to raise money. Not for the victims, but for himself. The man is never without an ulterior motive. Ed Lasky 9 20 05... More
September 20, 2005
Maybe Bush isn't a racist, but...
Richard Cohen of the Washington Post, no fan of the president, admits that George W. Bush is no racist. But Cohen still attacks him indirectly by saying he is supported by Republicans who are racists. The GOP, after all, became a... More
September 20, 2005
North Korea is playing games
The idea that North Korea has been playing games with the world received new support today when the New York Times reported that the last Stalinist regime has demanded billions of dollars to build nuclear reactors in exchange for... More
September 20, 2005
Breakdown of Gaza border
Within days after Israel withdrew from Gaza, Palestinian mobs have burned down twenty—five Jewish synagogues. Warfare has broken out between Palestinian factions, including the murder of Yasser Arafat's cousin Moussa Arafat and his son. The Palestinian Authority has not been... More
September 20, 2005
Is North Korea having nuke problems?
North Korea seems to be following the same playbook as their brethren in Iran. That is, agree in principle to a deal that would allow development of a nuclear commercial power reactor in exchange for giving up on its weapons... More
September 20, 2005
Thinking outside the box (a series)
If you are a parent or concerned citizen, you have probably bemoaned the schools' lack of attention given to teaching the basics of financial common sense*. While op—ed writers and pundits criticize the lack of personal savings by Americans, the foolhardy financial... More
September 20, 2005
"For the greater good"
Am I the only person in the cable news television audience who finds the frequent ads from TIAA—CREF (the pension fund manager for teachers, professors and other groups*) downright creepy? I refer to the ones which end in the tagline... More
September 20, 2005
Sam's right again
The great American folk philosopher Sam Goldwyn once said,"If people don't want to go to the picture, nobody can stop them." And he's proven right again, as the readers refuse to go along with the partisan reportage of America's newspapers. The... More
September 20, 2005
Gaza chaos not surprising
The Gaza—Egyptian border breakdown that has resulted in increased arms smuggling, warfare between rival Palestinian factions and violent chaos in general, though 'worrisome to Jerusalem,' are not unexpected to Ariel Sharon and the IDF. The withdrawal of Israeli settlements from... More
September 20, 2005
The Bush-Clinton Political Puzzle Solved
Many on the Right, conservative columnists and talk show hosts in particular, have been puzzled as to why the Bush administration would keep calling on William Jefferson Clinton to be part of the team. Like Hawaii 5—O's Jack Lord, they... More
September 19, 2005
Clear thinking from the New York Times
Every other Monday, The New York Times makes space for what it calls "a critic's perspective on arts and ideas." Today, we are treated to a bit of sanity from Edward Rothstein on the subject of hate crimes. Although tailored... More
September 19, 2005
No Surprise
It is fairly comical to see the uproar among some conservatives reacting to the President's New Orleans speech. Have they been asleep for five years? From day one of his Administration George W. Bush has been nothing if not consistent... More
September 19, 2005
Shine a light into the heart of the night
Ray Nagin, Mayor of New Orleans, was blown away by the reality that befalls a city armed with a category three defense in the face of a category four hurricane. Whereas Noah heard from God and followed His instructions to survive... More
September 19, 2005
Wal-Mart triumphs in Oakland
Wal—Mart, the company liberals love to hate, has pulled off a triumph in the nation's most politically left wing big city, Oakland, California. It has opened a very large store there, and it is a hit, even among locals who... More
September 19, 2005
FEMA's entitlement program
This is my shortest blog ever: if you've been reading AT for the past year, this is not earth—shattering news. Doug Hanson 9 19 05 ... More
September 19, 2005
Salvador Allende, KGB agent
Salvador Allende Gossens of Chile was an icon of the American left, the first Marxist to assume office via the ballot box. The CIA has been blamed for his overthrow and death, further enhancing his cult standing in Cambridge, Berkeley,... More
September 19, 2005
Howard Dean's standing
Howard Dean appearance on ABC television's The View followed Danny Bonaduce and a guy who has lived in a college frat for 15 years. Enough said about his esteem (self or otherwise). Ed Lasky 9 19 05... More
September 19, 2005
NYT punts on serious correction of Krugman's lies
Mediacrity takes New York Times public editor Barney Calame to task for burying the correction of Paul Krugman's blatant misrepresentation of the facts (A.K.A. "lies") in his columns, a topic we addressed here. Krugman made his goof in his print... More
September 19, 2005
No British Jews murdered in the Holocaust? Sacre bleu!
Haaretz investigates a report of an amazing gaffe by the French Foreign Minister, and finds it true: The French satirical magazine Le Canard Enchaine reported in its September 14th issue that during the visit of French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste—Blazy to the new... More
September 19, 2005
Good comic strip today
The comic strip Gaggle has a particularly cutting number today, relevant to coverage of the katrina disaster followup by ABC.... More
September 19, 2005
Church of England in disgrace
Our friend in Britain Peter Glover is taking his gloves off in addressing the Church of England House of Bishops, who want to apologize to "the world" for Britain's part in the war in Iraq as the government "is not... More
September 18, 2005
Just what the professor ordered
Yale Law School Professor Ian Ayres is to be commended for his New York Times op—ed on the problem of textbook prices in college. He identifies a key problem: IN time for the new school year, the Government Accountability Office... More
September 18, 2005
The Sheik in the Kremlin
That's Jim Hoagland's term for Vladimir Putin, because Russia is now such a big oil exporter, and benefitting mightily from high oil prices on its 6 million barrels a day sent abroad. All very true, though I think oil is... More
September 18, 2005
Send the elderly abroad?
Walter Russell Mead of the Council on Foreign Relations, a genuine establishment thinker, writes in the Los Angeles Times of the virtues (for America) of "sending" our elderly to retirement in low wage countries like Mexico and Costa Rica, where over a million... More
September 18, 2005
Taking back Islam
David Ignatius writes in the Washington Post of the internal battle within the Dar al Islam over the future of that faith of over a billion people. The Salafists, or radical Islamists, are a cult, Ignatius avers, and it is up... More
September 18, 2005
What Clash of Civilizations?
Britain's Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, reassures the United Nations Assembly in this report from the BBC: Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said there is no fundamental difference between the Islamic world and the West. He told the United Nations Assembly,... More
September 18, 2005
Chavez's Curacao ambitions
In New York this week, Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez blustered continuously about a U.S. naval ship port call to Curacao last February, arguing against our own American Thinker scoop that said a minor contingent of U.S. troops who visited the island... More
September 18, 2005
Bill Maher exposed for who and what he is
Fatuous, hypocritical, self—obsessed, a parody of himself? It is all here in the New York Times Magazine Q and A with the comic who despises religion, hates George Bush, and has a very sour mood about America—while he lives it up... More
September 18, 2005
The Kremlin's Nightmare Scenario
Allow me to flesh out Thomas Lifson's very perceptive point about the de—population of Siberia, and Russia's growing concerns about hanging onto its oil: Russia covers one—sixth of the earth's land surface, and its birth rate is so low that by... More
September 18, 2005
CENTCOM Reports
This week's CENTCOM Report highlights combat operations around Iraq. Action in Tall Afar is important in stopping Syrian support of terrorists in the fledgling democracy. As many AT readers know, the Horn of Africa is critical to prevent further expansion... More
September 18, 2005
Not much news here: pay no attention
Mediacrity is spot on with its criticism of the New York Times for downplaying the orgy of violence and the systematic violations of agreements in the handover of Gaza to Palestinian control. One of the most prolific yet easy to... More
September 17, 2005
Stupid San Francisco tricks
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is a unique political body, serving as the legislative arm of the only government in California (and probably America) which combines the functions of a city and a county. It is also home to... More
September 17, 2005
The battle over battleships
The latest salvo has been fired in the ongoing debate between those who want to modernize old battleships and those who want to fund a new fleet of destroyers. Many billions, not to mention our military effectiveness, are at stake.... More
September 17, 2005
Deport preachers of hate
Investors Business Daily this morning editorializes with great clarity on the necessity of ridding ourselves of those who incite actions like the London bombings. We do not need anyone preaching hate. An increasing number of foreign imams preaching in America... More
September 17, 2005
Class action fraud is widespread
A Wall Street Journal editorial (subscription required) entitled 'The Silicosis Sheriff' covers the painstaking efforts by Texas federal Judge Janis Graham Jack, a Clinton appointee, to uncover the massive fraud in nationwide silicosis litigation. Lawyers, doctors, plaintiffs and screening companies... More
September 17, 2005
Japan and China move toward open clash
While the world is preoccupied with the Middle East, a serious conflict is brewing in East Asia, between two powers with a history of military conflagration rather fresh in mind. For centuries Japan and China have disputed the ownership of the... More
September 17, 2005
Hillary worried about hidden sex
The following headline and article are just too, too ripe for stale, sour, perverse, predictable and also extremely funny comments. Go ahead. Clinton Urges Inquiry Into Hidden Sex in Grand Theft Auto GameWASHINGTON, July 13 — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton... More
September 17, 2005
Hope for the French?
Chirac, the Jacques—ass, languishes in the polls, but another figure, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, is soaring. Strangely enough, the French populce is backing a man who seems imbued with common sense. And, wonder of wonders, he commends Tony Blair and George... More
September 17, 2005
Kerry's absurd non-sequitur
Mass. Democratic politicians have roundly attacked Senator Santorum's recent comments regarding how the liberal culture of Boston may have contributed to the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal. This was to be expected, given that Boston is sacred ground for liberals... More
September 17, 2005
Not enough discrimination for UC
It is ironic that the University of California system is dropping National Merit Scholarships offered by the school because of lack of recipient diversity as diversity of another sort——some would call it outright discrimination——is built into the allocation of scholarships. ... More
September 17, 2005
Colorblind merit has no merit for University of California
The University of California continues to flout the spirit, if not the letter, of the law passed by the voters of California requiring no state agency discriminate on the basis of race. UC, you see, desperately wants to engineer what... More
September 17, 2005
Hillary's village will feed your children
Positioning herself as an oh so concerned parent/citizen Senator Hillary Clinton (D—NY) has published a six step plan for healthier living for children in her New York state constituency's largest newspaper. At first glance packed with common sense and helpfulness, this... More
September 17, 2005
An insurgent by any other name still stinks of terrorism
When is an insurgent not an insurgent? When is a militant no longer a militant? When does an activist cease being one? The Dallas News answers. These children were not collateral damage. They were targets. The SUV driver was no insurgent. He... More
September 17, 2005
Israeli terror target in Los Angeles?
Last year the Wall Street Journal ran a front—page story regarding the role that Muslim imams who visit prisons might play in radicalizing prisoners. This may no longer be simply a theoretical possibility as it seems that some Los Angeles... More
September 17, 2005
Political koans (continued)
Who is the Martin Luther of Islam?... More
September 17, 2005
The whole world hates us??
People are voting with their wallets and their appetites. They have an appetite for America that is not shared by the New York Times and other liberal outlets which propagandize that the world hates America. How about a new index: the... More
September 17, 2005
No Child Left Behind is working!
The progress made among the younger cohort bodes well for improvement in the years ahead. Older children are not benefitting as well because they have had years of weak schooling that has hurt their potential. Now, under George Bush's No... More
September 17, 2005
Chuck Schumer? Yes!
"Fatuous creep" is Roger L. Simon's description of Charles Schumer, everyone's favorite senior Senator from the Empire State. As a safety precaution, last night Brit Hume reminded the "Panel" and his viewers that the most dangerous place in Washington is... More
September 17, 2005
Case closed
Joseph Wilson: "My wife was not a covert agency when Novak wrote his column" Clearly, Wilson himself could have said this years ago, but for political reasons he wished to use his wife as a targeted weapon against the Bush... More
September 17, 2005
Support for bin Laden drops in Muslim world
But wait, I thought (according tho the Democrats) that America was creating terrorists around the world? And that terrorists are created by the Israel Palestinian conflict. So says Tony Blair. Ed Lasky 7 15 05 ... More
September 17, 2005
Too many human pinatas
You hit them and they dispense candy. The day after the London bombing attack Blair proudly announces $9 billion in aid to the Palestinians. Now he will seek to push Israel to give more concessions . I prefer a BOBO... More
September 17, 2005
Missing headlines (continued)
"Consumer Prices Stable" The absence of bad economic news continues to anger the liberals. Consumer Inflation Absent Again in June By MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics Writer 37 minutes ago WASHINGTON — Consumer prices in June were well—behaved for a second... More
September 17, 2005
al Guardian
Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs had earlier renamed the UK's left wing newspaper with an appropriately Arabic prefix. Now, a rival lefty (but saner, usually) UK newspaper The Independent has discovered that al Guardian emplys a member of a hard—line... More
September 17, 2005
New York Times home market circulation: From first to third
Imagine how angry you would be as a shareholder of a company which sat back and watched its home market share slip to third place from its perennial first place tradition. What if it had lost 30% off its share price... More
September 17, 2005
Caught!
Mediacrity has spotted the Jew—baiting site Counterpunch engaging in what might be fraud. Of course I am not a lawyer and I don't know all the facts, so this is not a libelous accusation. Not in the least. You be... More
September 17, 2005
Our troops
No, they do not behave in a manner at all reminiscnet of Nazis, no matter what Senator Durbin says. Consider Army Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer: During a routine patrol in Baghdad June 2, Army Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer, a medic, was shot... More
September 17, 2005
Shame on Tancredo
Rep. Tom Tancredo (R—Col.) said that if terrorists used a nuclear weapon against us, we should bomb Mecca. His comment is wrong, and he should apologize for it. We should not punish nearly a billion people by destroying their holy site,... More
September 17, 2005
The Hawk rules
Iowahawk is up to his usual tricks, hilariously skewering the left wing intent to oppose any Bush nominee for the SCOTUS. Read it here. Clarice Feldman 7 20 05... More
September 17, 2005
Schumer v Roberts
We are in for a lively confirmation process. To be sure, there will be serious discussion of legal issues, somewhere. But the most entertaining aspect will remain mostly unspoken. Because it is all about vanity. New York's senior Senator, Charles... More
September 17, 2005
Well-deserved
Tony Blankley delivers a well—deserved thrashing to a recent report of Chatham House, aka the Royal Institute of International Affairs, a venerable organization once highly respected. Chatham House, formerly known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, announced its considered... More
September 17, 2005
Look who's talking
Well, look who are the top talkers in the bluest of the blue areas, New York, New York, according to Drudge: LIMBAUGH TOP POLITICAL TALK NYCAPRIL—JUNE 2005[ALL LISTENERS] LIMBAUGH 139,000 [QTR HOUR]HANNITY 99,100O'REILLY 72,700SAVAGE 61,900 AL FRANKEN 61,400 Midwesterner Rush Limbaugh has... More
September 17, 2005
Different strokes
Compare the solicitous attitude that New York Times managing editor Bill Keller shows for Judith Miller to the complete apathy shown by Mainstream Media for the plight of the Iranian pro—democracy activist and journalist Akbar Ganji who is thought to be... More
September 17, 2005
Our German allies
Ray D., writing on DavidsMedienkritik, critically dissects the Schroeder — Fischer — German Media "Axis" and how it warps German public opinion. Long and worthwhile.... More
September 17, 2005
An honest intellectual
Caleb Carr is a talented novelist, whose first delightful book, The Alienist, presented social and intellectual history in the guise of a thriller. I think that I remember seeing indications in the press that he was more—or—less politically acceptable in... More
September 17, 2005
Follow the Soros
George Soros is making an investment in training, [make that 'empowering'] the next generation of left wing activists. Campus Progress, a project of billionaire George Soros's Center for American Progress, just held a national student conference, supposedly to work on the... More
September 17, 2005
Plame Dame Game Shame
Mark Levin today on NRO "This is the real scandal. Plame lobbied repeatedly for her husband (to go to Niger), and she knew full well that he was hostile to the war in Iraq and the administration's foreign policy. ...... More
September 17, 2005
Thanks, Mr. von Drehle
From an online discussion with David von Drahle, author of the Washington Post article cited here. Orange County, Calif.: Mr. von Drehle, I linked to your article from a favorite blog, americanthinker.com, and was delighted. Thanks for a great piece. The "Founding... More
September 17, 2005
Political koans (continued)
What is the sound of one Bilderberger conspiring?... More
September 17, 2005
How the BBC sees us
This is how the BBC reports on America. It's a crazed place, where 11—year old Mexican girls are persecuted for throwing a stone at a group of boys. The Euromedia drop these stories in an endless stream. In many cases,... More
September 17, 2005
Venezuela's oil firm drops from Fortune 500
The biggest companies in America are oil companies. And why shouldn't they be? For just one speculative oil well, drilling to seek commercially extractable oil, the bill can easily come to $50 million. And that's just to find it. Getting... More
September 17, 2005
The Democrats' losing hand
We have an interfesting prospect at hand: John G. Roberts Jr.Born Buffalo, NY (more likely Hamburg, NY, a conservative suburb)Attended St. Bernadette's (Catholic) Grammar School until 2nd grade.Father, an electrical engineer for Bethlehelm Steel who was transferred to Gary, IndianaGrew... More
September 17, 2005
The Greatest Invention of the 1950's?
Late Night TV King, Johnny Carson, died last year. Now, Gerry Thomas is gone. If you've ever pulled a serving tray over your knees while sitting to watch the flickering light coming from a rectangular box in the living room,... More
September 17, 2005
The NYT relies on Counterpunch for facts?
I read this offensive New York Times article late in the day and was going to do some research on he author and the subject of the article (civilian body counts in Iraq). I thought that one of he more... More
September 17, 2005
Two phony body counts
The left has now published TWO phony counts of civilian deaths in Iraq.The first (100,000) in Lancet has been thoroughly debunked, though it still shows up everywhere. Now there's a figure one—fourth as high, but it's no better: SPLASHED ON... More
September 17, 2005
July 20th: A personal recollection
Wednesday July 20th 2005 was the 36th anniversary of one of mankind's greatest achievements. On that day in 1969, Apollo 11 landed safely on the moon, in the monumentally—historic '...one giant leap for mankind.' Our family was at Fenway Park... More
September 17, 2005
Plame press coverup?
JustOneMinute makes a reasonable case on the public information that there is a substantial press cover—up in the Plame case just as the media is making its arguments to Congress that the press should get receive a testimonial privilege shielding them... More
September 17, 2005
Democrats' hypocrisy on public broadcasting
The hypocrisy of the left regarding public broadcasting: while demonizing CPB head Ken Tomlinson for wasting money when he hired consulatants to examine the issue of bias at CPB, the ruling powers—that—be have been doing the same (and much worse)... More
September 17, 2005
New York Times ignores GOP senators' efforts
How is this for a lead sentence: "Under pressure from Democratic senators, the board that rates video games assigned the latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series an adults—only label yesterday, effectively removing it from the shelves of most... More
September 17, 2005
Scientific? American?
In a favorable review of the book The Looting of the Iraq Museum, Baghdad: The Lost Legacy of Ancient Mesopotamia, the August 2005 issue of Scientific American says that a statue of a woman's head dating from the ninth or... More
September 17, 2005
Look who's listening in the big blue cities
Yesterday the ratings numbers for talk radio indicated Rush Limbaugh was a hit in deep blue New York. And that's no one city quirk. Apparently the man those tolerant liberals love to hate is also wildly popular in bluest Chicago and... More
September 17, 2005
That's a lot of converts
Did you know that 60 million Christians in the United States have converted to Judaisim? No? Well, neither did I. But Hizbullah's Al—Manar TV presented retired Lebanese general and public relations expert Dr. Hisham Jaber in a discussion of "global Zionism"... More
September 17, 2005
The hundred billion dollar game of chicken
The World Trade Organization (WTO) announced yesterday that it will flormally investigate charges of illegal subsidies to Airbus, and the counter—charges of illegal subsidies to Boeing. We have previously written about the combat between the two jetliner makers, which involves... More
September 17, 2005
NYC subway searches
The New York Post publishes a painfully accurate cartoon mocking the searches underway in New York subways. Dick Weitz 7 24 05 ... More
September 17, 2005
The root of delusion
Why does the left (see the BBC and Michael Moore, for example) insist that terrorism doesn't exist? Here's as good an explanation as I've seen. The website Dr. Sanity writes: The Left calls international terrorism an "illusion." I call the... More
September 17, 2005
A ten step program
In an editorial yesterday, the Telegraph of London has proposed "Ten Urgent Steps to Make Britain Safer." But in its very phrasing the Telegraph itself advanced what George Orwell would have thought to be the single most important step: a clear... More
September 17, 2005
Cuba arrests dissidents
Cuba remains a tyranny, albeit one excused by many on the American and European left. The latest evidence is the arrest of several prominent dissidents, many of whom were involved in the May rally on which we reported here. The... More
September 17, 2005
Who is "out of touch"?
The Los Angeles Times carries an editorial today about what it calls President Bush's "creepy" "obsession" with exercise: "Given the importance of his job, it is astonishing how much time Bush has to exercise . . . There's no denying... More
September 17, 2005
Scriptural sanctions for violence in Islam
Irshad Manji, a Canadian Muslim and well—known author living under threat of a fatwa calling for her death, writes today in the Los Angeles Times about the same problem addressed by Dr. N.S. Rajaram on AT today: the Quranic roots... More
September 17, 2005
Bill Moyers, the homo-hunter
Well, well ...the uber—liberal should be ashamed. Why didn't he do a mea culpa sometime over the last 30 years? Only a few weeks before the 1964 election, a powerful presidential assistant, Walter Jenkins, was arrested in a men's room... More
September 17, 2005
Subsidizing those who would destroy you
This article brings to light a fact unknown to many: England and other governments in Europe (and Canada) not only offer asylum for many Islamist extremists, but also puts them on the dole. So not only do they flout their... More
September 17, 2005
Numbers game
John Leo reminds us of the numbers games played by lefty advocates on everything from war casualties to the homeless: Isn't it awful, a friend said at dinner the other night, that 100,000 Iraqi civilians have died since the U.S.... More
September 17, 2005
Roberts and Kennedy on the Court
Amidst the fear and loathing on the left that John Roberts will be quickly confirmed, and move the Court to the right, Britisher Quentin Langley posits a more sober and thoughtful perspective. If the existing Court with O'Conner consised of... More
September 17, 2005
I hope Ann Coulter is wrong
Last week the best—selling author and queen of anti—liberalism, Ann Coulter, wrote an article about the recent nomination by President Bush of Appeals Court Judge John G. Roberts Jr. that has since caused many conservatives to get downright snippy toward... More
September 17, 2005
The CIA and Plame
Rick Moran profiles some of the CIA partisans who have attacked the White House over the Plame affair on his blog, The Right Wing Nut House. This continues his investigative work on the CIA connections with the case.... More
September 17, 2005
Americans divided on use of A-bombs on Japan
If this is accurate, it does not bode well for our battle against Islamic terrorism. As the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Japan approach in two weeks, one major poll shows that Americans, in a historical switch, now... More
September 17, 2005
Untouchable gambling interests
My friend Gary Larson (not the cartoonist) has written an insightful essay in the Intellectual Conservative, on the subject of Indian casinos and America's treatment of its indigenous people. Located in my home state of Minnesota, Gary places in historical... More
September 17, 2005
Arab reformers speaking out
I find it hard to tell moderates from extremists in Islam, in part because there is open permission to tell lies to enemies of Allah. But MEMRI has the expert knowledge to do it ——— and these translations show... More
September 17, 2005
The most under-reported story
The labor union break—up is far and away the most important political story of the summer —— vastly more important than the Valerie Plame kerfuffle —— but I doubt the press will understand. But the professional politicians will understand it, and the implications... More
September 17, 2005
Arab backlash against al Qaeda
Don Surber puts together pieces of evidence indicating that at long last a backlash against terrorism and AQ is building at his blog site.... More
September 17, 2005
One is quite enough, thank-you
John F. Kerry's brother Cameron is contemplating a run for Secretary of State in Massachusetts. In that position he would oversee elections. Ed Lasky 7 27 05... More
September 17, 2005
Democrat Reps in arrears
Further evidence of the crumbling of the Democratic Party is provided by the spectacle of widespread failure of Democrat Congressional Representatives to pay their dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Millions of dollars are involved, and the DCCC... | 
