John Brennan: Some Critics 'Serving the Goals of al Qaeda'*

View below least we forget the real defeatest. Then read WH: Some Critics 'Serving the Goals of al Qaeda'

Alexi Giannoulias: asking about Don't Ask Don't Tell

From his facebook:

Good morning, everyone! We'll be posting about repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" later today. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on the issue?

So this is a big Illinois issue? With the bind Illinois's in, Alexi wants to talk about DADT?

The Chicago Frame to explain Obama (try a Blagojevich Frame instead)

Here's Andrew Malcolm in the LA Times: President Obama Day 386: What's happened to him? building on Steve Clemons and the guy who kicked the Frame together first, Edward Luce: America: A fearsome foursome. frame that a Chicago crew is sinking Obama's administration.

Heck, Obama and the guys not running DC like Daley and the Machine have run Chicago. They're running America like Blagojevich ran Illinois. A permanent campaign because that's all they know to do. They don't have a clue how to govern, nor to the like governing much anyways. Only campaign stunts like Rod and Rahm's drug deal for seniors, or Blagojevich's All Kids program. Phoney programs that helped few. Using the impaired as human shields at press conferences.

It's a style that crushed Illinois and will do a heck of a lot of damage to America under attack by radical Islamists, and a country mired in unemployment.

We've got three more hard years ahead of us with this team.

NOAA 404's climate change announcement because of blizzard

Go ahead and try the link to the announcement. Via WSJ blog

As D.C. continued to dig out from Snowmageddon and is keeping an eye on another storm system, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was busy making a climate change announcement.

NOAA, part of the Department of Commerce, is going to be providing information to individuals and decision-makers through a new NOAA Climate Service office. “More and more, Americans are witnessing the impacts of climate change in their own backyards, including sea-level rise, longer growing seasons, changes in river flows, increases in heavy downpours, earlier snowmelt and extended ice-free seasons in our waters. People are searching for relevant and timely information about these changes to inform decision-making about virtually all aspects of their lives,” the release says.

Update: more at RBO Another “Climate Change” Meltdown Ahead?

Rahm's apology on SNL

Wait till the tapes from the Blagojevich trial go public. This spot on Rahm.

Justice?

Press Sec Gibbs on the likely execution of KSM,

"Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is going to meet justice and he's going to meet his maker," said President Obama's press secretary, Robert Gibbs. "He will be brought to justice and he's likely to be executed for the heinous crimes that he committed in killing and masterminding the killing of 3,000 Americans. That you can be sure of."

And if found not guilty, the US will hold him anyways as an enemy combatant.

How this kind of show trial can be called Justice, and how it will be seen as a positive reflection on American values, I'm at a total loss to see.

KSM belongs in Gitmo for the duration. When AQ defeated, and the fatwa of peace declared, we can send KSM to a War Crimes Tribunal.

Don't degrade the criminal justice system with a show trial and execution.

Libertarian Progressivism (or Liberalism)

Zorn reflecting on Jacob Weisberg's Down With the People Blame the childish, ignorant American public—not politicians—for our political and economic crisis.

Voters look contradictory only when seen through the prism of unreconstructed 1930's Social Democracy. What voter contradictions tell me is voters want Progressive's goals with Libertarian solutions.

Last thing American voters want are Government Health Exchanges with Expert Panels doling out insurance by their panel's rules. Voters want affordable coverage available in ways that maximize choice and individual preferences.

It's a Politician's job to solve problems creatively. Not reach back to solutions from the 19th century and then blame the voters when it all crashes.

Liberalism's gotta retool itself for a global and diverse America where one-size-for-all-dictated-by-expert-panels solutions don't fit.

Footnote: from Tim Cavanaugh reply: Weisberg: God Bless America? No, God Damn America!

Weisberg is not just wrong in his parsing of American disenchantment. He's wrong to think it's a tragedy. Increasing numbers of Americans in the vast lands to be found outside the D.C. Beltway (join us, Jacob, the water's fine!) understand that government delivers far too little at far too high a price. (Libertarians would take that realization much further, but we are banned from Weisberg's empire of the mind.) Skepticism about authority, expectation of better performance, and a determination to get more for your dollar are not problems that need to be solved. They're bedrock American ideals. Maybe Weisberg believes our population needs to be replaced, but does he really want to do away with the handful of concepts that still make this country borderline-livable?

Daily Herald: Good government doesn't just happen

Good journalism doesn't just happen either and this lame editorial trying to link Republican candidate for Illinois Lt Gov, Jason Plummer, with the Democrat's Scott Lee Cohen an example of lousy journalism.

The Daily Herald makes a big point of endorsing candidates. They didn't endorse Cohen for sure but part of that endorsement process ought to have included some research on all the candidates. The DH goofed that research and now wants to blame voters of widespread apathy and drag Jason Plummer into the mud along with Cohen.

That's the cheap Journalism that landed Illinois voters a guy like Cohen in the first place.

Zorn gets it right today,

So, there's plenty of blame to go around. But here's where blame doesn't belong:

1. The voters. They're busy people with lives to lead. They rely on the media, the other candidates and the party to flesh out, balance and correct campaign propaganda.

Rep Jan Schakowsky advising Scott Lee Cohen on the mud slung in politics

Geez, of all people to advise Cohen to step aside because of the mud slung in politics. Schakowsky's husband Bob Creamer did some hard-time down at Terre Haute for a check kiting scheme and the two of them still walk tall. If Schakowsky's calling shots here, Cohen oughtta stay. Who's Schakosky and Creamer to talk.

Anti-violence groups react to Illinois Democrat's Candidate for Lt Gov

via Progress Illinois (SEIU). Folks who should have paid closer attention...including the folks at Planned Parenthood who endorsed Scott Lee Brown.

Scott Lee Cohen: lllinois Democrat's green, sustainable, Plan Parenthood Endorsed Candidate for Lt Gov

Only Illinois Democrats can find a player like Mr Cohen.



Rich Miller notes,

My favorite exchange…

Ponce: You thought [your ex-girlfriend, the convicted prostitute] was a massage therapist, how did you meet her?

Cohen: In a massage therapy place.

Alstom Transport Applauds Obama Administration's Actions to Fund High Speed Rail

Via Earth Times,

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials of Alstom Transport, a world leader in high-speed rail, today applauded the Obama Administration on its plans to make a significant investment in high-speed rail. The Administration has announced a series of federal grants to support high-speed rail projects around the country.

Read more: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/alstom-transport-applauds-obama-administration39s-actions-to-fund-high-speed-rail,1141618.shtml#ixzz0efVdTTE8

And then this about Alstom,

An Alstom direct registered share is registered at and managed by BNP Paribas Securities Services. An Alstom registered share is registered with Alstom, but it is managed by a financial intermediary chosen by the shareholder.

The holder of registered shares is registered on the books of the issuing company. Alstom’s register is maintained by BNP Paribas Securities Services. Alstom knows the names of all its registered shareholders and that allows Alstom to directly distribute all documentation. Alstom also attends to the management fees for holders of registered shares.

A curious convergence here worth watching. Sad fact about high-speed rail --which really won't be so high-speed given our infrastructure in Illinois-- is many of us would be happen with frequent conventional service to places like Dekalb or Rockford's airport.

Alstom Transport Applauds Obama Administration's Actions to Fund High

"Fear the Boom and Bust" a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem

I read the General Theory once, long ago. A very tough slog.... a fun rap video to spark some interest in the dismal science. Next video with Veblen or Schumpeter please? 'Cause it's one of those creative destruction moments we're in today.

Two Dapper Chicago Progressives

This is precious.... A Gift from Dems in IL: Obama’s (psst, It’s Actually Roland’s) Senate seat

Wouldn’t surprise me if Bill Foster decides to mail it in from now til November

Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Feb 2, 10 @ 10:51 pm:

...with both of the 14th candidates promising unity, the lay of the District, and the national mood, it wouldn’t surprise me if Bill Foster decides to mail it in from now til November…he doesn’t seem to have a real passion for his job anyway.

From over at the Capital Fax

Hastert Supporter's email on Randy Hultgren's victory

An email from a Hastert supporter. Pretty gracious and a nice call for unity in what's sure to be a tough race against Bill Foster.

Every vote counts. Every vote makes a difference. You make a difference.

This past weekend I sent you an email asking for your vote of Ethan Hastert.

If you voted for Ethan, thank you.

If you voted for Randy, congratulations to you on his election.

As we look to November, it is important we come together as a Party and support Randy Hultgren and his campaign for Congress.

While we may have been on different sides during the Primary, we can agree Bill Foster is a mismatch for the 14th District in part because of his support for the Obama-Pelosi agenda.

Beating Bill Foster will be difficult to do. He has over $1,000,000 in the bank, can self-fund, has organized labor support and resources and has an interesting story.

In the coming months, we urge you to get a Hultgren yard sign, take a bumper sticker, make a contribution, sign up on Facebook…anything. Your time, talent and treasure will make a difference for Randy in November.

Thank you again,

Blagojevich, Rezko, and The Mob. Alexi Giannoulias would make Tony Soprano Proud.

Didn't take the NRSC long. Talk about a candidate rich for ridicule. No mention of Rezko's loans from Broadway...that's an omission.

Randy Hultgren!

Outspent 3 to 1 and Hultgren still wins! A great candidate to beat Bill Foster this November. Gotta run but more this afternoon....

Gitmo Poetry Reading at McHenry Committee College

Will We Get a Preview of Poems from Thomson to Come? asks the Chicago Daily Observer,

On a dark winter’s night so snowy

Who wouldn’t go to a poetry showy?

Hosted by McHenry County College

Showcasing terrorist’s emotions and knowledge

Be prepared to be charmed when you go

to hear Marc Falkoff present “Poems from Guantanamo”

And hear the tales and lore

at 7 p.m. Feb. 4

If it is a mullah’s wisdom that you seek

Come hear the former detainees speak

Geez, get Gitmo North and we'll probably hear a Detainee Chorus or something.