“With the world on fire, the American president goes on ideological holiday. As was said of the Bourbons: ‘They have learned nothing and have forgotten nothing.’ ”
__________________________
… It’s now been seven years. The real world has stubbornly refused to accommodate Obama’s pacific dreams. The Islamic State has grown from JV team to worldwide threat, operating from Libya to Afghanistan, Sinai to Belgium. It is well into the infiltration phase of its European campaign, with 500 trained and hardened cadres in place among the estimated 5,000 jihadists returned from the Middle East.
The increasing tempo and sophistication of its operations suggest that it may be poised for a continent-wide guerrilla campaign.
Obama seems genuinely unmoved by a menace the rest of the world views, correctly, with horror and increasing apprehension. …
In the face of this, (the president) remains inert, unmoved, displaying a neglect and insouciance that borders on denial. His nonreaction to the Belgian massacre — his 34-minute speech in Havana devoted 51 seconds to Brussels — left the world as stunned as it was after the Paris massacre, when Obama did nothing.
Worse, at his now-notorious November news conference in Turkey, his only show of passion regarding Paris was to berate Islamophobes.
David Axelrod called Obama’s response “tone deaf.” But that misses the point. This is more than a mere mistake of presentation. Remember his reaction to the beheading of the American journalist James Foley? Obama made a statement expressing his sympathies — and then jumped onto his golf cart for a round of 18.
He later told NBC News’ Chuck Todd that this was a mistake. “Part of this job is also the theater of it,” he explained, “it’s not something that always comes naturally to me.” As if postponing a bucolic recreation was a required piece of political playacting rather than a president’s natural reaction — a mixture of shock and sorrow — to the terrible death of a citizen he could not save. …
___________________________________________
Facing threats of a massive economic boycott, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced Monday he will veto a controversial religious liberty bill that critics describe as anti-gay and supporters describe as necessary to protect their religious rights.
The Republican governor had been under intense pressure to veto the religious liberty bill which would allow faith-based organizations to deny services to those who violate their “sincerely held” religious beliefs. It also would let employers retain the right to fire employees not aligned with those beliefs.
“I have examined the protections that this bill proposes to provide to the faith-based community and I can find no examples of any of those circumstances occurring in our state,” Deal said.
He added, “I do not think that we have to discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in Georgia.” …
_________________________________
“Just days after President Barack Obama concluded his historic three-day visit to Cuba, former leader Fidel Castro published an op-ed piece attacking the U.S. president.
In a 1,500-word bristling column published in the Communist government’s official newspaper on Monday, Castro, 89, recounts the history of U.S. aggression against Cuba. Referring to Obama, he wrote: “My modest suggestion is that he reflects and doesn’t try to develop theories about Cuban politics.”
Is there a better term than Two-Faced to describe the gracious welcome extended to Pres Obama while in Cuba?
Poor Georgia. First her Republicans voted for the rude Yankee liberal. Now her Governor wimps out after pressure from the perverts. My great-great grandfather was killed and is buried at Resaca. As Tom Wolfe said, “250,000 Confederates died trying to prevent what modern Atlanta has become.”
I’ve been mildly amused listening and reading American “experts” discuss Cuba. Somehow they think its been a hermit kingdom until Obama opened up relations. They need to remember the rest of the world has had an open relationship with Cuba since the Revolution.
Watching Bill Mahar, I heard a conservative “expert” stating that Obama was doing it all wrong and should exploit US leverage more before going to Cuba. But as Mahar (and I) asked, “what leverage?” The US doesn’t have any leverage. After 60 years, the Cubans have figured out how to do it on their own (or with a little help from Canadian and European tourists) All the US has to offer is an influx of drunken spring breakers — and given that Cuba has one of the highest human development levels in the Caribbean and an infant mortality and life expectancy equal to the US, I’m quite sure a boatload of drunken American teenagers is less than appealing to the Cubans. If Obama came into Cuba with the attitude that America had something to offer Cuba, this would explain Castro’s op-ed reply; Obama was being a rude guest.
Some conservatives have opined that Obama should have rushed home after Brussels instead of watching baseball and doing the tango. But once he’s back in Washington, what does he do?
Brussels was a criminal act which will be dealt with for better or worse by the Belgian police. The connection to ISIS is more virtual than real. In fact, the rush to take credit for terrorism may indicate ISIS misfortunes on the caliphate battlefield. Due to NATO, or Putin/Assad or the Kurds or all three, ISIS is suffering reversals. And as their land fortunes reverse themselves, they will turn more often to the asymmetrical poor man’s war — i.e. terrorism. In other words, as ISIS becomes squeezed in Syria, we can expect more bombs. Suicide bombing as a sign of success — will make us wish for a land war in the Middle East.
“The militant group Islamic State (ISIS) continued its persecution of Christian groups by allegedly crucifying a Catholic priest on Good Friday, the Washington Times reports.
The victim was the Rev. Thomas Uzhunnalil, a Salesian priest, who was kidnapped in Yemen earlier this month during a raid on a Catholic nursing home run by Mother Teresa’s organization Missionaries of Charity.
Uzhunnalil, a native of India, was captured on March 4, in a raid which also killed 16 Christian nuns and nurses. His death by the same method the Romans used to kill Jesus—an event marked by Christians around the world on Good Friday—was reportedly confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass by Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, although the Cardinal’s claim has yet to be independently verified. The Indian government had received no further information regarding the priest’s fate on Monday evening. “
“Diplomacy: Amid fanfare and Spring Break-style selfies, President Obama’s “history-making” visit to communist Cuba is no proud moment for America. If anything, it’s the opposite, with Cuba’s dictatorship showing open contempt for the U.S.
As a sycophantic media rolls out the adoring photos and flattering words, it’s hard to say what will prove most embarrassing: the picture of President Obama posing in front of a communist cement wall emblazoned with a pop-art depiction of the murderous — and racist — “revolutionary” Che Guevara, a man who sought to set off a nuclear bomb against the U.S. in the early 1960s? Or the photo of 84-year-old Cuban communist dictator Raul Castro diabolically leering as he lifts the limp wrist of President Obama while he giggles like an unwitting teenager?
Hard to say. They’re both a sign of a president out of his league, oblivious to the nature of the regime he’s honoring with a presidential visit.
Because the fact is, as Obama struts around in Spring Break mode, savoring the tourist pleasures of Cuba, the Castro regime has demonstrated very forcefully what it is, even as its contemptuous insults go right over the president’s head.”
I see on FoxNews that the FBI doesn’t need for Apple to break the security code. They did it themselves.
They shouldn’t have revealed that. They should make the possible targets, if any, think they are still secure. I was skeptical of this brouhaha from the beginning. I see I was wrong, they really couldn’t get into the iPhone.
OTOH, maybe they didn’t really break it, but are hoping the potential targets may do something stupid.
It’s a big game of deception.
Here is an idea for you, HRW: If Trump and Sanders both fall short, they could run as a Trump/Sanders ticket. I know you will say that Sanders, unlike Carson, is a man of principle who would never stoop that low. However, Trump might promise to defer to Sanders on policy. They already agree on healthcare. The new third party: Trump Socialists!
Before you dismiss the whole idea, consider the likelihood that Trump will commit an impeachable offense during his first three months in office. Being his VP would be a sure path to the Presidency.
The biggest threat we face is not from the Muslims who will kill a few of us, or Sanders who will further socialize us or even Trump who could make us into the world’s biggest laughingstock.
The biggest threat is from the perverts. Last week I posted a poll which indicates that only 50% of young Americans (age 13-20) consider themselves “fully heterosexual”.
Whe the alliance of Big Business and Organized Perversion can force a Republican Governor of Georgia to wimp out, you have to conclude we are past the point of no return. We are all just Lots, raising our families in Sodom.
I’d read that the priest story was still unconfirmed — his captors had threatened to do it, apparently, but you’d think if it had happened there would be video and boasting by now. Praying he’s OK …
Wandering Views 
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/433241/barack-obama-cuba-visit-brussels-speech
From Charles Krauthammer
“With the world on fire, the American president goes on ideological holiday. As was said of the Bourbons: ‘They have learned nothing and have forgotten nothing.’ ”
__________________________
… It’s now been seven years. The real world has stubbornly refused to accommodate Obama’s pacific dreams. The Islamic State has grown from JV team to worldwide threat, operating from Libya to Afghanistan, Sinai to Belgium. It is well into the infiltration phase of its European campaign, with 500 trained and hardened cadres in place among the estimated 5,000 jihadists returned from the Middle East.
The increasing tempo and sophistication of its operations suggest that it may be poised for a continent-wide guerrilla campaign.
Obama seems genuinely unmoved by a menace the rest of the world views, correctly, with horror and increasing apprehension. …
In the face of this, (the president) remains inert, unmoved, displaying a neglect and insouciance that borders on denial. His nonreaction to the Belgian massacre — his 34-minute speech in Havana devoted 51 seconds to Brussels — left the world as stunned as it was after the Paris massacre, when Obama did nothing.
Worse, at his now-notorious November news conference in Turkey, his only show of passion regarding Paris was to berate Islamophobes.
David Axelrod called Obama’s response “tone deaf.” But that misses the point. This is more than a mere mistake of presentation. Remember his reaction to the beheading of the American journalist James Foley? Obama made a statement expressing his sympathies — and then jumped onto his golf cart for a round of 18.
He later told NBC News’ Chuck Todd that this was a mistake. “Part of this job is also the theater of it,” he explained, “it’s not something that always comes naturally to me.” As if postponing a bucolic recreation was a required piece of political playacting rather than a president’s natural reaction — a mixture of shock and sorrow — to the terrible death of a citizen he could not save. …
___________________________________________
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Meanwhile in Georgia:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/28/georgia-governor-vetoes-religious-liberty-bill-amid-boycott-threats.html?intcmp=hplnws
________________________________
Facing threats of a massive economic boycott, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced Monday he will veto a controversial religious liberty bill that critics describe as anti-gay and supporters describe as necessary to protect their religious rights.
The Republican governor had been under intense pressure to veto the religious liberty bill which would allow faith-based organizations to deny services to those who violate their “sincerely held” religious beliefs. It also would let employers retain the right to fire employees not aligned with those beliefs.
“I have examined the protections that this bill proposes to provide to the faith-based community and I can find no examples of any of those circumstances occurring in our state,” Deal said.
He added, “I do not think that we have to discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in Georgia.” …
_________________________________
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What a waste of taxpayer money, and a good example of a naive president.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2016/03/28/days-after-visit-fidel-castro-slams-president-obama-recounts-history-aggression/
“Just days after President Barack Obama concluded his historic three-day visit to Cuba, former leader Fidel Castro published an op-ed piece attacking the U.S. president.
In a 1,500-word bristling column published in the Communist government’s official newspaper on Monday, Castro, 89, recounts the history of U.S. aggression against Cuba. Referring to Obama, he wrote: “My modest suggestion is that he reflects and doesn’t try to develop theories about Cuban politics.”
Is there a better term than Two-Faced to describe the gracious welcome extended to Pres Obama while in Cuba?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just embarrassing. At least the president didn’t bow down to them (or wasn’t photographed bowing, at any rate). 🙄
LikeLike
Poor Georgia. First her Republicans voted for the rude Yankee liberal. Now her Governor wimps out after pressure from the perverts. My great-great grandfather was killed and is buried at Resaca. As Tom Wolfe said, “250,000 Confederates died trying to prevent what modern Atlanta has become.”
LikeLike
I’ve been mildly amused listening and reading American “experts” discuss Cuba. Somehow they think its been a hermit kingdom until Obama opened up relations. They need to remember the rest of the world has had an open relationship with Cuba since the Revolution.
Watching Bill Mahar, I heard a conservative “expert” stating that Obama was doing it all wrong and should exploit US leverage more before going to Cuba. But as Mahar (and I) asked, “what leverage?” The US doesn’t have any leverage. After 60 years, the Cubans have figured out how to do it on their own (or with a little help from Canadian and European tourists) All the US has to offer is an influx of drunken spring breakers — and given that Cuba has one of the highest human development levels in the Caribbean and an infant mortality and life expectancy equal to the US, I’m quite sure a boatload of drunken American teenagers is less than appealing to the Cubans. If Obama came into Cuba with the attitude that America had something to offer Cuba, this would explain Castro’s op-ed reply; Obama was being a rude guest.
LikeLike
Some conservatives have opined that Obama should have rushed home after Brussels instead of watching baseball and doing the tango. But once he’s back in Washington, what does he do?
Brussels was a criminal act which will be dealt with for better or worse by the Belgian police. The connection to ISIS is more virtual than real. In fact, the rush to take credit for terrorism may indicate ISIS misfortunes on the caliphate battlefield. Due to NATO, or Putin/Assad or the Kurds or all three, ISIS is suffering reversals. And as their land fortunes reverse themselves, they will turn more often to the asymmetrical poor man’s war — i.e. terrorism. In other words, as ISIS becomes squeezed in Syria, we can expect more bombs. Suicide bombing as a sign of success — will make us wish for a land war in the Middle East.
LikeLike
Act like he cared?
He didn’t have to rush home .. But seriously, those photo ops spoke volumes. I think even MSNBC has said as much.
Less than a year left …
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My old boss passed away on Eastern Sunday. RIP Mother Angelica.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Savages….
http://www.newsweek.com/isis-crucify-catholic-priest-good-friday-441219
“The militant group Islamic State (ISIS) continued its persecution of Christian groups by allegedly crucifying a Catholic priest on Good Friday, the Washington Times reports.
The victim was the Rev. Thomas Uzhunnalil, a Salesian priest, who was kidnapped in Yemen earlier this month during a raid on a Catholic nursing home run by Mother Teresa’s organization Missionaries of Charity.
Uzhunnalil, a native of India, was captured on March 4, in a raid which also killed 16 Christian nuns and nurses. His death by the same method the Romans used to kill Jesus—an event marked by Christians around the world on Good Friday—was reportedly confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass by Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, although the Cardinal’s claim has yet to be independently verified. The Indian government had received no further information regarding the priest’s fate on Monday evening. “
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Donna,
“At least the president didn’t bow down to them (or wasn’t photographed bowing, at any rate). 🙄
Ummmmm…… Yeah…. about that……
https://www.google.com/search?q=obama+bows+to+castro&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=775&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjn9sqGouTLAhVBGB4KHVxxDPAQ7AkILg&dpr=1
http://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/as-obama-bows-castro-shows-nothing-but-contempt/
“Diplomacy: Amid fanfare and Spring Break-style selfies, President Obama’s “history-making” visit to communist Cuba is no proud moment for America. If anything, it’s the opposite, with Cuba’s dictatorship showing open contempt for the U.S.
As a sycophantic media rolls out the adoring photos and flattering words, it’s hard to say what will prove most embarrassing: the picture of President Obama posing in front of a communist cement wall emblazoned with a pop-art depiction of the murderous — and racist — “revolutionary” Che Guevara, a man who sought to set off a nuclear bomb against the U.S. in the early 1960s? Or the photo of 84-year-old Cuban communist dictator Raul Castro diabolically leering as he lifts the limp wrist of President Obama while he giggles like an unwitting teenager?
Hard to say. They’re both a sign of a president out of his league, oblivious to the nature of the regime he’s honoring with a presidential visit.
Because the fact is, as Obama struts around in Spring Break mode, savoring the tourist pleasures of Cuba, the Castro regime has demonstrated very forcefully what it is, even as its contemptuous insults go right over the president’s head.”
LikeLike
I see on FoxNews that the FBI doesn’t need for Apple to break the security code. They did it themselves.
They shouldn’t have revealed that. They should make the possible targets, if any, think they are still secure. I was skeptical of this brouhaha from the beginning. I see I was wrong, they really couldn’t get into the iPhone.
OTOH, maybe they didn’t really break it, but are hoping the potential targets may do something stupid.
It’s a big game of deception.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here is an idea for you, HRW: If Trump and Sanders both fall short, they could run as a Trump/Sanders ticket. I know you will say that Sanders, unlike Carson, is a man of principle who would never stoop that low. However, Trump might promise to defer to Sanders on policy. They already agree on healthcare. The new third party: Trump Socialists!
Before you dismiss the whole idea, consider the likelihood that Trump will commit an impeachable offense during his first three months in office. Being his VP would be a sure path to the Presidency.
LikeLike
The biggest threat we face is not from the Muslims who will kill a few of us, or Sanders who will further socialize us or even Trump who could make us into the world’s biggest laughingstock.
The biggest threat is from the perverts. Last week I posted a poll which indicates that only 50% of young Americans (age 13-20) consider themselves “fully heterosexual”.
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/religious-liberty-deal-georgia-lgbt-christian/
Whe the alliance of Big Business and Organized Perversion can force a Republican Governor of Georgia to wimp out, you have to conclude we are past the point of no return. We are all just Lots, raising our families in Sodom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Regarding the story of the crucified priest, this article says that it is a rumor, & he is probably still alive. Hoping this is true.
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/bishop-paul-hinder-of-southern-arabia-strong-indications-that-father-tom-is/
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Kbells – Was Mother Angelica as down-to-earth as she seemed on TV? I didn’t see her often, but when I did, she seemed “real”.
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I’d read that the priest story was still unconfirmed — his captors had threatened to do it, apparently, but you’d think if it had happened there would be video and boasting by now. Praying he’s OK …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Karen, yes, even more so.
LikeLiked by 1 person