Sundays are for Beauty: Korea's Got Talent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BewknNW2b8Y

Sung-bong Choi is singing "Gabriel's Oboe," originally written as an instrumental by Ennio Morricone, but later put to words at the urging of Sarah Brightman. The best recording of the newly titled piece, "Nella Fantasia," is by Chloë Agnew of Celtic Women.

Have a Beautiful Sunday.

Juan Williams: Champion of School Choice

Juan Williams was at FreedomFest 2011, and was interviewed by Reason.TV's Matt Welch. Don't miss the short video of the interview during which Juan describes school choice as the “civil rights issue of our time.”

Reason.tv: Fox News’ Juan Williams on School Choice

Juan Williams did not come late to the fight for school choice. He was the most prominent voice arguing for the continuation of the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program (DCOSP), which was discontinued by the current administration with the help of the duplicitous demagogues in the U. S. senate led by the most duplicitous one of all - Dick Durbin of Illinois. Of course the losers in this fight to preserve the highly successful DCOSP were the least advantaged minority children in D.C.

For earlier posts on school choice, the DCOSP, and the work of Juan Williams in support of quality education for all, go HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Klavan: Facts of Life for Liberals

PJTV's Andrew Klavan does his best to explain the free market system to Liberals in a way even they might be able to understand.

http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=mpg&mpid=80&load=5818

Claire Berlinski: Huge News From Turkey

Claire Berlinski, who lives in Istanbul and writes for City Journal and many other publications, and edits Ricochet.com, just posted this at Ricochet:

Huge News From Turkey: Highest Ranking Military Officers Resign
Claire Berlinski, Ed. · 24 minutes ago
This just came across the transom:

Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner announced his resignation Friday afternoon.

His resignation was followed by the resignations of Turkey's Land, Sea and Air Force commanders.

I don't yet know what this means or what the implications will be, but obviously it's a very big deal.

It would be difficult to think this is anything but bad news - very bad news - for Israel (and us), as it appears to be yet another step away from the reforms put in place by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923, and a step closer to The Islamic Republic of Turkey.

For prior posts on this scary topic go Here and Here.

Henry Payne: The Obama Plan

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Recruiters pressed to reach out to gays once ban is lifted (they never wanted Only the right to serve)

From WashingtonTimes.com today:

An underground gay group in the military wants recruiters to reach out to the gay community in the same way they target blacks, Hispanics and women.

The group OutServe, which claims more than 4,000 gay and lesbian military members worldwide, plans a “coming-out party,” of sorts, in Las Vegas in October.

Robert Knight, a conservative columnist, said he expects a list of gay-oriented demands for the Pentagon.

“No one should be surprised at what will be an increasingly shrill set of demands to use the military as an endorsing agency for homosexual activism,” said Mr. Knight, who helped draft the federal 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

“The idea that they would be satisfied with a military that is merely indifferent to sexual preference ignores what they’ve done in other institutions, such as corporations, schools and even some church denominations.”

You can read the whole story by clicking on the link below.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/28/group-wants-military-recruiters-to-target-gays-aft/?page=1

Muslim Soldier Granted Conscientious Objector Status Arrested. Admits Intent to Attack Ft. Hood

Remember Jason Abdo, the U. S. soldier who refused orders to go to Afghanistan because he didn't want to kill muslims? You'll recall he was granted conscientious objector status, then charged with Child Porn, which kept him from being discharged from the military until those charges were adjudicated. Well, he went A.W.O.L., and was arrested today after a tip from a gun dealer (the same one patronized by U. S. Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, another muslim who killed 12 fellow soldiers and a civilian employee, and wounded 32 others while shouting "Allahu Akbar!" at Ft. Hood back in November 2009).

This is our earlier post on Abdo, on June 27, 2011.

And here is the latest from CNN on today's arrest of Abdo. After his arrest, according to the police chief in Killeen, Texas, Abdo told investigators that he wanted to attack fellow soldiers at the Ft. Hood military base.

If It's Good Enough for Thomas Sowell, It's Good Enough!

Surely we're all sick to death of hearing about the debt ceiling debacle still ongoing in Washington. Late yesterday, Peter Robinson of The Hoover Institution, posted this at Ricochet.com after he said he'd been listening to Sean Hannity on his car radio yesterday:

Sean spent an hour lambasting Speaker Boehner and everyone who supports Boehner's proposal to raise the debt ceiling, including the Wall Street Journal and Bill Kristol.

Then Congressman Ryan came on the air. Sean asked if Paul Ryan agreed with those who believed that voting against the Boehner proposal would "play into Obama's hands" in a tone leaving no doubt that Sean expected Ryan to prove as dismissive of the Boehner proposal as was Sean himself. "I absolutely believe that voting against the Speaker's proposal would play into Obama's hands," Ryan replied. (I'm quoting from memory here.)

Respectfully but firmly and--very much worth noting--cheerfully, Ryan explained, a) that Boehner's proposal would cut federal spending by more than it would raise the debt ceiling, b) that the Boehner proposal would do so without raising taxes, and, c) that, even though Obama and Geithner have been misleading the public about the likelihood of a default, if Congress failed to raise the debt ceiling the markets would indeed be disrupted, doing damage to a weak economy. Ryan continued to say that the conservative movement was split "right down the middle on this." While urging listeners to support Boehner's proposal, he nevertheless insisted that "after this is over we're going to unite as conservatives to keep on pounding and pounding."

The interview lasted only a few minutes, but it was as deft a performance as I've ever heard. Also, in its way, courageous. Sean, Rush, others--Ryan surely knew that they had devoted their air time today to attacking the Boehner proposal, and that they were speaking for a lot of the people who most admire Ryan, including much of the Tea Party. Ryan stood his ground.

If Paul Ryan's endorsement of the Boehner proposal is not enough to convince you (it does me), read the below article posted at National Review Online today by Thomas Sowell. Here's a bit of it:

Is the Boehner legislation the best legislation possible? Of course not! You don’t get your heart’s desire when you control only one house of Congress and face a presidential veto.

The most basic fact of life is that we can make our choices only among the alternatives actually available. It is not idealism to ignore the limits of one’s power. Nor is it selling out one’s principles to recognize those limits at a given time and place, and get the best deal possible under those conditions.

That still leaves the option of working toward getting a better deal later, when the odds are more in your favor.

Boehner’s Plan Will Do - Thomas Sowell - National Review Online

It shouldn't have to be pointed out that both Paul Ryan and Thomas Sowell are endorsing the Boehner proposal now - not what it might look like after Harry Reid's senate takes a shot at it.

Steny Hoyer "Cooling" the Rhetoric

Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer apparently didn't get the memo (or maybe he assumed it was addressed only to Republicans) about cooling the political rhetoric after the attack on Representative Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona back on January 8, 2011. Those calls came from both sides of the aisle - and even from the White House.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IIRwsrGPu7k

Hoyer, of course, is always characterized by the mainstream media as a "moderate."

Here's what he said, as reported by Bloomberg Busness Week, two days after the shooting.

“My colleagues are very concerned about the environment in which they are operating,” House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” The Maryland Democrat termed the political climate in recent years an “angrier, confrontational environment,” and cautioned that “what we say can, in fact, have consequences.”

He must have forgotten he said that.

Everybody Hates To Say It, BUT...

...the president is a liar.

David Kupelian, managing editor of WorldNetDaily, posted a piece today entitled "President of the lie."

In his article, Kupelian refers to famed psychiatrist M. Scott Peck, and his classic book: "People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil." According to Peck, people who are caught up with evil are, first and foremost, liars. They lie not only to everyone around them, but to themselves as well. Peck continues about such people:

While they seem to lack any motivation to be good, they intensely desire to appear good. Their "goodness" is all on a level of pretense. It is, in effect, a lie. That is why they are the "people of the lie." The wickedness of the evil is not committed directly, but indirectly as a part of this cover-up process.

Peck goes on to explain "malignant narcissism," a malady that has been ascribed elsewhere to President Obama.

Malignant narcissism is characterized by an unsubmitted will. All adults who are mentally healthy submit themselves one way or another to something higher than themselves, be it God or truth or love or some other ideal. … They believe in what is true rather than what they would like to be true.

In summary, to a greater or lesser degree, all mentally healthy individuals submit themselves to the demands of their own conscience. Not so the evil, however. … They are men and women of obviously strong will, determined to have their own way.

Kupelian again:

In one respect, the reason for Obama's constant deception is obvious and understandable. He's committed to leading a center-right country far to the left. How could he possibly succeed if he were honest about where he really is heading? Only a small percentage of Americans would follow. So he lies.

Unfortunately, there's an even uglier aspect to this. You've heard about Obama's notoriously "thin skin" – his near-total inability to handle criticism, to graciously deal with opposition? I'll paraphrase Peck's explanation of such extreme narcissism:

To maintain the illusion that you're right all the time, even though you're profoundly wrong, not only do you have to lie, confuse other people and tempt them to doubt the truth about you and your intentions; you also have to scapegoat the innocent.

Kupelian's article provides numerous examples of Obama's lies and his scapegoating. You can read the whole piece HERE.

H/T: rutusmc

Dan Peek, November 1, 1950 - July 24, 2011 R.I.P.

Dan Peek was one of the original members of America, one of the most popular performing groups of all time. His personal story, especially after leaving the band, is remarkable, and is briefly summarized in a post written tonight by Aaron Goldstein on the Blog of The American Spectator. Be sure to click on the video of Dan's recent interview on the Blog post.

Dan wrote "Lonely People," one of the first and biggest hits of America. Here is an early video of that #1 hit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRDnEqW1vAc

There is only one new entry on Dan's website today:

"Dan went to Heaven on July 24 2011"

Chris Christie on Merit Pay for Teachers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCTeulPZxa8&feature=player_embedded

Steve Kelley: Obama and the BBA

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H/T: rutusmc

Krauthammer: Media Bias on "Inside Washington"

Gordon Peterson, host of "Inside Washington," proved no match for Charles Krauthammer the other day, and not solely because Krauthammer was right. Don't miss the cackling Nina Totenberg.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlHj7ZYcENY

Sundays are for Beauty: Tine Thing Helseth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz0l1dn8L4U

This is the fourth appearance by Tine Thing Helseth on Sundays are for Beauty. In the three previous posts, she performs the classical trumpet concertos of Haydn, Hummel, and Neruda.


Have a Beautiful Sunday.

Through the Congressional Looking Glass

"When I use a word, Humpty Dumpty said in a scornful tone, it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less."

Lewis Carrol: "Through the Looking Glass" 1871

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996. The law defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.

The Respect for Marriage Act is a proposed bill in the United States Congress that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and allow the U.S. federal government to provide benefits to couples in a same-sex marriage. It would not (at least not yet) compel individual states to recognize same-sex marriages.

George Weigel, writing in National Review Online, on the newly passed law in New York said:

There is a curious rhetorical fact that has usually gone unremarked in these debates, but which is worth pointing out. That what the New York state legislature approved has to be described, not as marriage, but as “gay marriage” or “same-sex marriage” is itself a verbal indicator that what is being done here is counterintuitive. We all know, or thought we knew, what marriage is, and to add the qualifier “gay” or “same-sex” is a tacit admission by the proponents of the practice that it requires an appeal to authority to enforce what seems strange, odd, not right. The verbal tic of “gay marriage” or “same-sex” marriage is thus itself a rhetorical warning sign that what was done in Albany was an exercise in raw state power, the state’s asserting that it can do X simply because it claims that it has the power to do so.

So, when an elected official uses the word "marriage," he or she is telling us that the word "means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less" - until I decide it means something else.

"Dabit deus his quoque finem."
(God will bring an end to this.)
Virgil

More on The Death Panel Known as The Independent Payment Advisory Board

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Back in April of this year we posted this piece written by Stanley Kurtz on National Review Online.

Yesterday, Kathryn Nix of The Heritage Foundation posted this piece on The Foundry (the Heritage Blog). The following is from the Nix piece:

This week, the House Budget Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee held hearings to examine the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a board of unelected bureaucrats tasked under Obamacare to reduce the growth in Medicare spending.

During the Budget Committee hearing, Grace-Marie Turner, president of the Galen Institute, described the board:

[T]he IPAB is unprecedented in the power given to unelected officials to direct hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending. The IPAB will give unelected, unaccountable government appointees the power to make decisions about payment policy in Medicare that will ultimately determine whether millions of seniors have access to the care they need. This challenges the very principles of representative democracy and consent of the governed.

If, after reading both links to this post, someone tells you the IPAB is not a Death Panel, the appropriate response would be: If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

Michael Ramirez: The End of an Era

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Obama and American Exceptionalism

Those who voted for our current president can spin it any way they like, but the end of our space program is a clear manifestation of Obama's disdain for American Exceptionalism.

Lisa Benson: Approval Ratings Assistance

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H/T: rutusmc

Trifecta: Scaring Taxpayers and Threatening Seniors

Bill Whittle, Steven Green, and Scott Ott are not optimistic that there will be a happy ending to the debt ceiling talks still going on in Washington. Would that they were wrong.

http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=mpg&mpid=105&load=5768

Gaza Flotilla Peace Activists: Bad Guy of the Week

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The Bloggers at The Captain and the Kid just posted their "Bad Guy of the Week," which they do each Wednesday.

Their post is HERE, and the referenced article by Mario Loyola of National Review Online is HERE.

Israel's Only Two Options

Judea and Samaria Area is the official Israeli term roughly corresponding to the area usually known outside Israel as the West Bank; it also includes the Israeli settlements there that are not governed as part of Jerusalem.

Caroline Glick is convinced, in the face of the Palestinian bid to sidestep negotiations with Israel and have the UN General Assembly recognize Palestinian sovereignty over Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem in addition to Gaza, that there are only two options for Israel: (1) Either the Palestinians will take control of Judea and Samaria, or (2) Israel will annex them.

She's further convinced (and who would argue with her?) that "If the Palestinians take control, they will establish a terror state in the areas, which - like their terror state in Gaza - will use its territory as a starting point for continued war against Israel."

Every day gets a little scarier for the only democracy in the Middle East - especially since she appears to be all but abandoned by her former best friend in the West.

To read Caroline Glick's essay on the options, click on the link below.

Israel"s only two options

Governor Andrew Cuomo: Political Hypocrite

Dear Friend in Christ,

When you give the Enemy an inch .. he takes the world. Please pass this episode around to as many family and friends as possible.

http://www.youtube.com/user/RealCatholicTV?feature=mhee#p/u/0/vxPpS3Z1_Xw

GOD Bless you and your loved ones,

Michael Voris
~senior executive producer, RealCatholicTV.com

Don't Shoot the Taliban

From Jihadwatch.org:

Don’t shoot Taliban, you’ll wake locals: US gives bizarre dhimmi orders to troops in Afghanistan

SOLDIERS were banned from shooting Taliban fighters planting mines - to avoid waking Afghan locals, a former Royal Marine has revealed.

To read the whole unbelievable story, click on the link below.

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2011/07/dont-shoot-taliban-youll-wake-locals-uk-gives-bizarre-dhimmi-orders-to-troops-in-afghanistan.html