What’s news today?
The mother of the US Ambassador killed in Benghazi has spoken out on the President’s stupid comment.
From the DailyMail
“The mother of an American diplomat killed during a terrorist raid on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi has hit out at Barack Obama for describing the attack as ‘not optimal’, saying: ‘My son is not very optimal – he is also very dead.’
During an interview shown on Comedy Central, Obama responded to a question about his administration’s confused communication after the assault by saying: ‘If four Americans get killed, it’s not optimal.’
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline today, Pat Smith, whose son Sean died in the raid, said: ‘It was a disrespectful thing to say and I don’t think it’s right.
Read more here
And just like with the attack on the embassy, the Obama admin refuses to state the obvious in the Ft. Hood shooting. He just can’t seem to point out terrorism when it shows it’s face.
From Military.com
“Nearly three years after the shooting rampage at Fort Hood, many of those affected are urging the U.S. government to declare it a terrorist attack, saying wounded soldiers and victims’ relatives otherwise won’t receive the same benefits as those in a combat zone.
A video expressing their frustration was released Thursday by a group of about 160 people, including relatives of the 13 people killed at the Texas Army post and some of the more than two dozen wounded and their families.”
“Because the defense secretary has not declared it a terrorist attack, the soldiers injured or killed have not received certain benefits and are not eligible for the Purple Heart, said John Stone, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. John Carter. The Texas Republican has sponsored a bill that would make those provisions available for the Fort Hood victims.”
Read more here
And speaking of terrorists…….
From RealClearPolitics
“”There are some things that we haven’t gotten done. I still want to close Guantanamo, we haven’t been able to get that through Congress,” President Obama said during an appearance on Comedy Central’s “Daily Show” with host Jon Stewart on Thursday.”
Read more here
That’s strange. Didn’t he have both the Senate and House held by his party for 2 years? I guess with jamming Obamacare down our throats, they were simply too busy.
Wandering Views 
George Will’s recent column nails it. However, he shies away from the obvious conclusion: The people of the US have lost the ability to govern themselves.
LikeLike
Where has the respectability of the Presidential Office gone. I actually can remember a time when if the President needed to get a message out to the American people he called a news conference or he addressed the nation from the Oval Office during prime-time. If he talked directly to a reporter it was someone of caliber–not a comedian posing as a reporter or a coffee klatch.
I don’t want to have to watch Comedy Central and try to determine what is tongue in cheek and what is real hard hitting news and I don’t want the President to sit down “with the girls” and have a gossipy gab fest.
I want a POTUS with some dignity. This is even beneath Jeb Bartlette on the West Wing.
LikeLike
I think the low point of candidates pandering to entertainers came when John McCain apologized to Letterman for cancelling an appearance on his show. It all started when it became almost mandatory to do Saturday Night Live.
LikeLike
One comment: Bread and circuses.
LikeLike
Nixon on Laugh In … It’s gone downhill from there. I don’t have a problem with maybe 1 appearance on a respected night-time show, but this president is making a regular circuit of of them, one a week? Jon Stewart and the ladies at The View are friendly territory for him.
I’m hesitant to feel too confident — the polls have been neck-and-neck for a long time until just very recently, and they’re still very close in many of the swing states — but the Obama campaign does project an unmistakable image right now of the “wheels coming off,” doesn’t it?
LikeLike
I will say, however, the next 2 weeks (is the election we’ve been waiting for so long really just 2 weeks away???) will be heated, intense and probably holding a surprise attack or two. Or perhaps a dozen.
Any predictions on what to watch for in Monday night’s debate? The last one made it clear that these guys really don’t like each other very much (though I sensed that to be the case more on Obama’s part — he looked like he was close to either a major explosion or an outright meltdown at several points).
Remember, watch the blinking.
LikeLike
Meanwhile, we have some rather odd things on the local/LA portion of the November ballot this time around.
Take county Measure B, requiring porn actors to wear condoms. I mean, how does one even vote on something like that ??? Oy.
I haven’t looked at it yet, but I suspect the ballot pamphlet description alone, along with the pro and con opinions, may make for some R-rated reading. …
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Los_Angeles_Porn_Actors_Required_to_Wear_Condoms_Act,_Measure_B_(November_2012)
LikeLike
(The link above is NOT to the ballot pamphlet or anything risque, but is just the basic measure statement itself — lest I be banned!!)
Much of the debate centers around whether this will drive what is a rather thriving film “business” out of LA.
LikeLike
It just got worse, if that’s possible. Now we find out that the US had a Predator drone in Benghazi which filmed the last hours of the attack. The armed drone was not used to defend the embassy which seems asinine. An armed drone on site, yet they did nothing to defend the Americans.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-33816_162-57536611/could-u.s-military-have-helped-during-libya-attack/
“Some lawmakers are asking why U.S. military help from outside Libya didn’t arrive as terrorists battered more than 30 Americans over the course of more than seven hours. The assault was launched by an armed mob of dozens that torched buildings and used rocket propelled grenades, mortars and AK-47 rifles.
CBS News has been told that, hours after the attack began, an unmanned Predator drone was sent over the U.S. mission in Benghazi, and that the drone and other reconnaissance aircraft apparently observed the final hours of the protracted battle.
The State Department, White House and Pentagon declined to say what military options were available. A White House official told CBS News that, at the start of the attack, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Martin Dempsey and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta “looked at available options, and the ones we exercised had our military forces arrive in less than 24 hours, well ahead of timelines laid out in established policies.”
But it was too late to help the Americans in Benghazi. The ambassador and three others were dead.”
LikeLike
The people of the US have lost the ability to govern themselves..
Time for Jesus Christ to return. Though I am confused. It is when we gain the ability to govern ourselves that He returns; or is it when we lose ability to govern ourselves that he returns. Oh the humanity!
LikeLike
Any comments on Rev Graham’s decision to remove Mormonism from the list of cults on his website?
AJ
Bengahzi — you have no doubt read the accounts from intel agencies confirming that Amb Rice was using the info she had at hand? Also that Rep Issa’s search for a cover-up has led to releasing info that has put Libyan people in danger? This new story you site, strikes me as along those same line — better to wait for the full investigation than speculate in dribs and drabs.
DonnaJ — I don’t get the sense from the things I’ve read that the Obama campaign has the wheels coming off. The race is close, when the polls seemed to be favoring the President, his campaign people were constantly saying, the race would be close.
Monday — the Governor, if he is smart, will not attack again on Libya. He’ll accuse the Administration of parting from Israel, will attack again on China (perhaps unaware of the latest WTO decision), he’ll try to attack again on Iran. He’ll rattle the saber and think that passes for foreign policy.
LikeLike
Well, he doesn’t really have to “attack” on Libya. I think the mishandling of that situation has become pretty clear to everyone.
And I suppose the Democrats do still have their “binder” campaign line to rely on with demonstrations of women wearing cardboard sandwich boards. So perhaps all’s not lost after all. 😉
The contrast to ’08 takes your breath away surely. ?
As for Mormons being a ‘cult’ — Mormonism is not Christian, it falls (way) outside orthodoxy on numerous points.
But I’ll admit I’ve always felt uneasy with the way the “cult” term has been thrown around by some Christians in recent decades.
To me, it never did apply all that well to Mormonism which I consider a non-Christian but pretty established minority religion within the U.S.
“Cult” may apply to some off-shoots of Mormonism, I suppose, where communities are organized around a particular leader and practices such as polygamy are embraced. And it may have well applied to the movement in its beginnings.
It is an odd religion to many of us, no doubt about that. And again, it is definitely not Christian.
But personally, the somewhat mainstream Mormons I know are not part of what I’d call a “cult.”
LikeLike
CB, I hate to say this, but Biily Graham and his people wimped out. A cult doesn’t stop being a cult when your preferred presidential candidate is a member of it.
LikeLike
Donna,
I think you’re defining cult in too narrow a sense. Theologically, it’s definitely a cult, even if not necessarily so psychologically.
And it seems fairly apparent, CB, that the Billy Graham people removed Mormonism from their cult list as a political move–especially considering the timing. I don’t know that Billy Graham, himself, is likely to have been responsible, considering his age and condition, but I could be wrong about that.
LikeLike
Ree, perhaps. But “cult” has become a pretty loaded term so I’m not sure the word itself is a good one anymore. Accurately or not, for many people it now conjures up visions of weapon stockpiles, wild-eyed leaders and cabins in the woods. 😉
I think speaking out against religions that claim to be Christian — but simply are not, by any reasonable measure — is important (and in that sense, if the Graham organization would no longer put forth an argument saying that Mormonism is not Christian, that is, as Ricky says, “wimping out”).
But I have no problem with their dropping the term “cult” per se.
LikeLike
In other words, I think in terms of common usage and popular understanding, the term “cult” applies to a fairly narrow range of off-beat religious groups that would not include religions like Mormonism.
I doubt many people look the word up in the dictionary — so it strikes many people as over-the-top when used to define so many religions that generally are perceived (culturally) to be relatively benign.
LikeLike
Maybe it’s just a pet peeve of mine. But labeling something a “cult” too often has taken on an inflammatory (name-calling) connotation in my mind.
LikeLike
CB,
“better to wait for the full investigation than speculate in dribs and drabs.”
Which I’m sure will conveniently be after the election.
Sorry, but no. I will post any details as they are released, as I did with the story on the drone above. You may seek to shelter Obama from the consequences of his ineptitude and outright failure of his policies, but I do not. He owns this. If he won’t be honest and upfront, which he’s shown himself to be incapable of, then this is what he gets. This option, or playing along with his lies, are the only two I see. He made it that way, not me.
LikeLike
AJ
I’m not seeking shelter for anyone, but do prefer to deal with the facts. The right wing speaks of ineptitude because of the security issues presumably, but they don’t provide a critique preferring instead to be bogged down in a who said what when analysis that is not useful in terms of fixing problems. It’s not that easy. I appreciate what Greta van Sustern had to day on This Week regarding the security issue and what Anne Applebaum has observed vis-a-vis the tension between the hermetically sealed Embassy and the need to have accessibility for diplomatic staff. If folks wanted to speak to the issues that would be one thing, but what I primarily see is not an attempt to deal with facts and issues — it’s a sad comment on the media and politicians left and right.
Issa releasing sensitive documents was also sheer ineptitude, btw as has been the Romney campaign handling of it.
Ree, Donna and Ricky
I agree — one of the things I dislike about the removal — the Graham folks saying they are not going to take part in the politics involving Mormonism as Christian and then taking part in the politics. Kind of a no win. Seems the better course would be to say Mormonism is not Christianity and move on from that with looking at what the candidates support or say they support. The separation of church and state is something Americans by and large do get. Though there is a vanity fair article that’s a bit troubling on that score.
LikeLike
I guess I am a member of a “cult” in my belief that there is no God, and that we should maintain strict separation of church and state. I see no difference between the Catholic church, the Protestant churches, Islamic mosques, Mormon tabernacles, and any other religious institutions. They all claim to have insight and guidance from an “unseen” source. The lessons and guidance from God differ depending on appoints himself or herself to “speak for” God. Every belief system should be protected from persecution. Every person should be allowed to “pray and worship” as they please. No one should get any special acceptance or authority solely on their claims of ability to communicate with, interpret, or be inspired by unseen things. We are on our own. Time to grow up and admit it.
LikeLike
Random, you are essentially arguing for a vague and weak multicultural West that betrays its heritage of Christendom that respects minorities but maintains its cultural dominance. The West was founded by hard fighting Germanic peoples who became civilized by Christianity, though we still maintain. fighting spirit when dealing with enemies including atheists.
Make no mistake about it, the West including especially America is a predominantly Christian entity. Leftist atheist secularists like you delude themselves with multicultural sentimentality
LikeLike
Sails, I can’t believe you live in Massachusetts. You belong in Texas, and when you decide to move down here, I’ll tell all my neighbors that you are one of us.
Donna made some good points on the use of the word: “cult”. Mormonism clearly started as a cult of the worst kind. One can argue that it is now simply a false religion. However, the time to change/remove its designation on Billy Graham’s website is clearly not now.
LikeLike
AJ, are you on to this one? I just got something in my e-mail about it.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/u-n-partner-organization-to-monitor-u-s-elections-for-voter-suppression-by-conservatives/
LikeLike
Janice,
The OSCE sends monitors to virtully every US presidential election. Mostl it is a learning opportunity for member states of te OSCE (European and central Asian countries). This year te NAACP did tell the human dimension meetin of te OSCE that they are concerned by the voter id laws which the contend have a differential impact on the disabled and minorities. The OSCE is recognized as a regional organization by the UN. It as created by the Helsiniki commission and declaration primarily bythe US. The US is a member state.
LikeLike
Thanks for that info, CB.
LikeLike
Sure CB,
I might buy that, were the UN not trying to push Obama already. And yes, if he loses, I look for the UN to claim fraud on his behalf.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2012/10/21/UN-Warns-Americans-Do-Not-Elect-Mitt-Romney
“The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights has warned Americans not to elect Republican Mitt Romney in next month’s presidential election, saying that doing so would be “a democratic mandate for torture.” ”
More here,
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/romney-win-first-democratic-mandate-torture-un-rapporteur-201125761.html
The UN is run by leftists, and that’s who they back. I don’t trust them at all.
LikeLike
That would be my concern as well — exactly how *neutral* are the monitors?
LikeLike
For the last couple of elections the right wing has had a similar reaction to the OSCE election monitors sounding more like apparatchiks than small d democrats. It’s not a big deal guys.
As for the special rapporteur — those guys do not run the UN. They are appointed to their positions and are supposed to be independent. And s usual Breitbart writers exaggerate — the rapporteur said Romney had endorsed torture and would have a democratic mandate to undermine universal abhorrence thereof — he didn’t say don’t elect Romney. It’s more of a buyer beware.
Apologies for the post explaining the OSCE on this point — my smart phone kept having issues, having to press letters 3 times and I see I missed several as I was posting while also watching the Pats and Jets … sigh.
LikeLike