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Q: How many Sean Penn-sized heads can you fit on the head of a pin?

A: Fourteen. At a minimum.

Excerpt from a speech given by Mitt Romney at the Virginia Military Institute:

"I know the President hopes for a safer, freer, and a more prosperous Middle East allied with the United States. I share this hope. But hope is not a strategy. We cannot support our friends and defeat our enemies in the Middle East when our words are not backed up by deeds, when our defense spending is being arbitrarily and deeply cut, when we have no trade agenda to speak of, and the perception of our strategy is not one of partnership, but of passivity.

"The greater tragedy of it all is that we are missing an historic opportunity to win new friends who share our values in the Middle East—friends who are fighting for their own futures against the very same violent extremists, and evil tyrants, and angry mobs who seek to harm us. Unfortunately, so many of these people who could be our friends feel that our President is indifferent to their quest for freedom and dignity. As one Syrian woman put it, 'We will not forget that you forgot about us.'”

You can read the entire speech here.

A rather prescient observation made by Lawrence Auster on November 5, 2008, the morning after Obama's election:

At first I felt distinctly uncomfortable about it all. Then I started to realize that the liberal orgasm—“Oh, oh, oh, it’s so amazing, how can this be, just 50 years ago we had separate water fountains, oh, oh, oh, for the rest of their lives everyone will remember where they were at this moment, oh, oh, oh, when Theodore Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington to the White House for dinner there were people who didn’t like this, the prideful bigotry of it all, and now we have an African American president, oh, oh, oh, a remarkable night, an amazing night…”—cannot go on forever. It will inevitably wear off, because it’s simply impossible to go on having orgasms about the fact that a person in a particular office is of a certain race. How long can the David Gergens of this world keep preening themselves about the amazing, wonderful fact that a “black” man is president?

About 3.9 years, apparently.

Oh I read parts of that speech EBD. That's the one where Romney seriously says America should arm Syrian rebels, increase military spending regardless of reality, and basically stay in Afghanistan forever. Because we have to look TUFF and LEADERSHIP. Romney is a moron I'm not even sure he'd be an improvement over Obama.

Hey Phil go back to the leftwing cess pool you came from.Do you understand what that openly gay cnn anchor ment when he called the tea party that sick little tag oh you lefties all love and can't we all get along. And then wham it's teabagger this we are all racists that well be a good little troll and go pound sand.

The 'Daily Beast' article by Andrew Sullivan that Drudge links to is just hilarious, a must read. What a wanker.

I thought this might be of some interest to all of you. This past Saturday, a group of 249 combines north of Saskatoon broke the world record for most combines harvesting simultaneously, as well as the record for the fastest harvest (5 minutes). Video can be seen here (http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=778284) and some aerial photos can be seen here (http://www.ccicamps.com/h4kmedia.htm). It was pretty amazing to be a part of. The generosity of this province is always shown at events like this, even if it is just helping out a neighbour who has been having trouble with health, as has happened in this area earlier this fall. I hope we never lose that spirit of helping out when it is needed most.

I think I read that. Sullivan is actually in full-on meltdown.

Phil: Stewart and Reilly are in a 'who is less serious' contest. And they're both winnlosing.

"Oh, I read parts of that speech, EBD." -- LAS, 10:36

Well, that's a big part of the problem right there, LAS: your MO. You read parts of everything, often uncomprehendingly, and then favour us with your brilliant analysis.

Seriously, it's a short speech, LAS, one that doesn't take more than a couple of minutes to read. If you only read parts of it, why bother to comment? Why not just take the time you spend composing your comment to read the speech instead?

"That's the one where Romney seriously says America should arm Syrian rebels…"

There are a variety of anti-Assad interests in the region with widely differing views. Most people are aware of this fact. The fact that you think there is one group of "rebels", and that Romney stated that he wants to arm "them", that doesn't really make Romney a "moron", does it, LAS?

America can take pride in the blows that our military and intelligence professionals have inflicted on Al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, including the killing of Osama bin Laden. These are real achievements won at a high cost. But Al-Qaeda remains a strong force in Yemen and Somalia, in Libya and other parts of North Africa, in Iraq, and now in Syria.

In Syria, I will work with our partners to identify and organize those members of the opposition who share our values and ensure they obtain the arms they need to defeat Assad’s tanks, helicopters, and fighter jets.

Notice anything, LAS?

"That's the one where Romney seriously says America should…increase military spending regardless of reality…"

Yeszz, of course he said that.

Don't know what we'd do without you, LAS.

Race-difference researcher Philippe Rushton has passed away.

Ugh my time is too precious to devote to reading endless boilerplate. I skip to the meat.

In Syria, I will work with our partners to identify and organize those members of the opposition who share our values and ensure they obtain the arms they need to defeat Assad’s tanks, helicopters, and fighter jets.

America's government will not only telepathically determine who is good from bad, it will use magic to prevent weapons from being transferred or used by the bad guys! Just like in Fast 'n Furious!

In saying he's ready to arm the opponents of the Assad regime, I’m afraid Romney is about to lose some of the support he gained with his performance in last week's debate.

Given the so-called Arab Spring's doubtful results, with the Muslim Brotherhood gaining power in Egypt and a Libyan faction turning on the US by attacking its consulate in Benghazi, I don’t understand why the US would arm forces whose loyalties are questionable.

I have no special knowledge of or connections to the American “pulse”, but I would wager that Americans, be they on the right or the left, are fed up of fighting other people’s battles and then having to fund reconstruction, especially of countries whose gratitude and recognition of western efforts is dubious at best. Americans are probably much more concerned about their own crumbling house.

Rather than arm Syrian fighters, maybe Romney should state that under his administration the US would cease funding the UN due to that body’s shameful inaction AND ask that moribund body to leave its New York premises. Funding to countries who support terrorism, either openly or covertly, would also immediately stop.

Let's face it, Iraq and Afghanistan have been utter failures. Just prior to the 2003 incursion into Iraq, a local radio talk show host brought in 3 Iraqi guests who assured their host the Americans would be hailed as liberators. That sentiment turned out to be wrong, as has the hope that democracy would suddenly flower after the "Arab Spring" -- a misnomer if ever there was one.

Glad we are still winning the war in Afghanistan. We will keep right on winning until we leave with our tail between our legs. Reminds me of another place we were winning right up to when the last chopper lifted off the embassy roof.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/afghanistan/Taliban-mock-US-as-Afghan-war-enters-12th-year/Article1-941175.aspx

About that Scottish Separatiste movement: yeah, right.

As always, stolen from Ace of Spades. (And SDA's linked elsewhere on the sidebar over at Ace right now, so try ta act classy, eh?)

What the deuce is the matter with this blog? is it on? Is it on?

EBD posts a link to the song of some tattoed hairy druggie named after 1970s pickup truck with some dead famous daddy and not one of you swinging Richards has the minimum courtesy to stay on topic.

At least reward EBD with a "linky no worky" comment. Which was my experience.

Gabby, Assad is going down sooner or later. It's inevitable. So the question is, should America try to have any influence over who, or what interests, replace him?

I think the tone of Romney's speech -- his clear identification of the threatening prospect of Al-Qaeda-led governments in the region, and of the importance of intelligence, and of being helpful to the more moderate, non-Al-Qaeda forces ("those members of the opposition who share our values") in the region -- suggests a (potential) President who understands that the hands-off, Pollyanna-ish and arguably pro-radical stance of Obama has contributed to the ugly morass in the ME.

The spectre of direct military involvement is another matter altogether, but for the world's biggest superpower to not "pick sides" in any way would amount to a handing over of outcomes in the region to China, Russia, Iran, etc.

Given that the superpowers are always involved in the ME in some way, whether the leaders talk about it or not, it's better to provide support for anti-Iranian, anti-Al-Qaeda factions than to deal with the consequences later.

Again, I'm talking about intelligence and support and influence, and not direct military intervention.

Which linky no worky, Vordechai Manunu?

The Bocephus link worky very lucky-good at this end.

Vordechai - You're on Reader Tips. Don't you get it? There is no "topic", man. It's a jungle out here.

hands-off, Pollyanna-ish and arguably pro-radical stance of Obama has contributed to the ugly morass in the ME

I'd like to live in the alternate universe you live in where Obama has not bombed Libya, gotten deeper into Afghanistan, or stuck around in Iraq way too long.

Assad is going down-all the more reason to stay out. If Russia and China want to 'take over outcomes', let them. If an anti-American faction tries to take over Syria, then is the time for America to get involved. Not now. Besides, I'm pretty sure Israel has a better handle on this than Romney ever could.

"An unexpected error occurred, please try back later".
Having rebooted, I tried again and the linky worky very goody.

That perky song, EBD? if Baranga Boonga-Banga Binga-Bonga (CPUSA-Chimpago) wins 272 EVs it will not be a bestseller.

Please do not think I am against taking back our country. I just think that the better fitting footage would be of Messrs. Bernanke and Blankfein.

Baraka? he a hired hand, y'all.

Okay. I'm beginning to sense that Vordechai might not be totally on board with persons of the Hebrew persuasion are/or those descended therefrom. Am I reading your vibe correctly?

Ahh, I think I get your point Vordechai: the Binga-Bongas are just being used by the Jewish cabal who are running the world.

I resent the implicit accusations of ugly anti-semenitism and I denounce those who dare to question my commitment to the noble goals of Likud Partei and selfless great leadership so graciously granted to us, the parochial 'Murkans.

Even the Roman poet Horace said
Dvlce et Decorvm Est Pro Eretz Israel Mori.

I have that timeless adage tattooed on the inside forearm.

Your punishment for these ugly slurs will be to watch the Unga Bunga Banga G anthem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3887t3M4llI

and do not let me catch you doing it again.

Enlightening!

Top 100 most dangerous places to live in the USA.

h/t Dyspepsia Generation.

There were those who foolishly thought Justice Roberts will repeal BoobangaCare.
By the similar token, I am just trying to steel myself for 4 more years of The Reign of Our Glorious Leader, Bambooka Bubinga BangaRanga Achmed OobaBooba.

Ben Shalom will calm down the markets and improve the Ecomony by means of shoveling the greenbacks out of low flying Huey UH-1 Iroquois formations. We will gratefully wash them down with our allotted dosage of Brawndo. It has electrolytes and isht. It's what plants crave.

The government that is benevolent enough to bequeath free sailfone to everybody will also shepherd us by means of free armored vehicle on most intersection and affordable drone way above us.

We are... so, so lucky!

The Benghazi news blockade is about to bust wide open. ABC's Jake Tapper and CBS's Sharyl Attkisson, the only 2 "real" journalists still on duty in America, are both all over this now.

Tappers latest: http://strokesofcandor.com/us-politics/video-abc-obtains-meme-saying-obama-administration-rejected-benghazi-security-warnings/

Attkisson's latest is a must watch: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57528335/security-dwindled-before-deadly-libyan-consulate-attack/?tag=socsh

Drip...drip...drip...

Rats,Charlie Brown.Another thread hijacked by Libertarians Are Stupid and phil,and those who respond to them.sigh

Gabon is going to make english its official language (instead of french) "to improve opportun ities for its people". Perhaps Canada should consider the same thing.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2214994/Gabon-set-ditch-French-English-nations-second-language-bid-improve-opportunities-people.html?openGraphAuthor=%2Fhome%2Fsearch.html%3Fs%3D%26authornamef%3DEmma%2BReynolds

The Broadbent Institute has put together an ad for equality starring play-doh Ed.

The cbc has it up as an article. I think that this should be considered as an expense for the NDP/Occupy/Communist party.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/10/08/pol-broadbent-institute-first-policy-report.html

...Seriously: has that kind of swing ever happened this late in a campaign? Has any candidate lost 18 points among women voters in one night ever? And we are told that when Obama left the stage that night, he was feeling good. That's terrifying. On every single issue, Obama has instantly plummeted into near-oblivion. ...

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/10/did-obama-just-throw-the-entire-election-away.html

Andrew Sullivan giving Obama a tongue lashing: sweet. I guess Andy didn't see what most of us saw when Obambam was first elected: the very same arrogant, vain, deluded, empty suit Sullivan's lamenting now.

Thanks Kat. It was a great day, weather wise and participation wise.

Hank Williams Jr. says it well. Too bad we have slipped into so much Marxism since then while the people slept.

California recycling success ...er I mean fraud.

LAS;
Isn't the uppermost rationale for USA involvement in the ME a economic one? The area supplies 1/4 of the world's oil exports. Whoever controls the flow of that oil determines much of the world's political direction. USA involvement is not becuase of the amount of oil they import from there as it amounts to peanuts. It is all about whether a radical Islamic power such as Iran does or Mr. Putin from Russia. Not that many years ago Putin shut the gas off to Euroland. That should have clued everyone in.

The world has always been about business & power. If there was no oil in the ME even Israel's support by the USA and others would dissappear.

They are not going to shut of oil and Putin is not going to take over the ME. They need to sell their product at lest as much as America needs to buy it.

Our CBC on endangered list.

c.c. Heritage Minister Moore.

...-

"CNews | Canada’s TV industry could ‘face extinction’: Peladeau

CANNES, France – Pierre Karl Peladeau, president and CEO of Quebecor Inc., told an audience of international entertainment content leaders on Monday that the Canadian television industry must be positioned globally or it could “face extinction.”"

Socialism: the religion of the stomach.

H/T Monty.

...-

"CNN | Florida man dies after winning roach-eating contest

(CNN) – A 32-year-old man downed dozens of roaches and worms to win a python at a Florida reptile store, then collapsed and died outside minutes later.

[...]

#8 — Fox | UN says 2009 claim that 1 billion people hungry was wrong, estimates true figure at 870 million

ROME – The United Nations now says its 2009 headline-grabbing announcement that 1 billion people in the world were hungry was off-target and that the number is actually more like 870 million."

http://www.jacksnewswatch.com/

Socialism's natural end result: zombies beget zombies beget ...

"“The kids lose their homes, go live with mom and dad and then mom and dad lose the home...".

It's not fair.

...-

"‘Saddest Cases’

Carlos Banos, president of Madrid-based AFES, said parental guarantors “are the saddest of all cases” the association sees. “The kids lose their homes, go live with mom and dad and then mom and dad lose the home that they worked all their lives to pay for because it backed their children’s debts.”

At the peak of the housing boom in 2007, purchasing a home in Spain cost 7.7 times a family’s annual gross income on average, compared with 5 times in the U.S., according to research by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA (BBVA), the country’s second-biggest lender.

Guarantors were rarely aware of the consequences of backing mortgages. On top of losing their homes, some have had part of their pensions taken away to repay debts, according to Banos.

Spanish home prices have fallen more than 30 percent since the peak, according to Tinsa, Spain’s largest homes appraiser. That’s left about a fifth of borrowers in negative equity, a figure that could reach 25 percent by year’s end, according to Standard & Poor’s. Unemployment, already the highest in the European Union, rose to 24.6 percent in the second quarter, the highest since at least 1976, the year after the death of dictator Francisco Franco."

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-08/spain-foreclosures-spread-to-once-wealthy-mortgages.html

Mao Stlong* Lepolt.

...-

"Three Firms Blocked from Entering U.S."

"Washington cites national security as telecoms companies and wind power firm find themselves barred"

"(Beijing) – Three companies with links to China have been blocked from entering the United States recently over U.S. concerns they are a threat to national security.

Huawei and ZTE, leading Chinese telecoms equipment manufacturers, pose a threat to U.S. national security, the U.S. House Intelligence Committee said in a report released on October 8."

http://english.caixin.com/2012-10-09/100445086.html

*Liberal Rae's uncle, c/o Red China.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/us-election/obama-features-big-bird-in-new-campaign-ad/article4598449/

"U.S. President Barack Obama deployed Big Bird in a new campaign ad Tuesday mocking Mitt Romney's vow to end federal funding for public broadcasting. Mr. Romney's campaign dismissed it as an example of Obama being small-minded while the foundation behind Big Bird's program, Sesame Street, asked that the ad be taken down."

It is me or is Obama's campaign becoming completely bizarre?

"What Exactly Does Obama Like About Being President?"

"In other words, debates are below him."

"It’s not that he’s a weak debater, it’s that the debate format is too trivial for the likes of Barack Obama".

"He dislikes working with members of congress, and his disengagement from the legislative side of the political process has been criticized routinely...".

"According to Game Change author John Heilemann, Obama is one of those rare politicians who “don’t like people…[and] don’t like politics.”"

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/10/08/what-exactly-does-obama-like-about-being-president/#more-807561

...-

"In general, the narcissist always prefers show-off to substance. One of the most effective methods of exposing a narcissist is by trying to delve deeper. The narcissist is shallow, a pond pretending to be an ocean. He likes to think of himself as a Renaissance man, a Jack of all trades. The narcissist never admits to ignorance in any field yet, typically, he is ignorant of them all. It is surprisingly easy to penetrate the gloss and the veneer of the narcissist's self-proclaimed omniscience."

"Barack Obama - Narcissist or Merely Narcissistic?

Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 8/13/2008"

http://www.globalpolitician.com/25109-barack-obama-elections

My take, seriously, is that Oblahblah doesn't want another four years in the White House.

If he could confine himself to the WH's basket ball courts and the golf greens open to him as POTUS, another four years in the White House would be fine and dandy. But, if living in the White House means hard work and knowing what the hell's going on in the U.S. and the rest of the world, well ... I figure Zero wants out.

He's got a choice: another four years in the White House, with lots of hard work ahead, or retirement in the $35-million house his friends are buying him in Oahu.

What does anyone think that Oblamer would prefer? No wonder his friends and allies are so pi**ed off with him. He's taken them so far and now he's deciding to fink out.

Obama is a fink out. I'm with Black Mamba in thinking that when his gig's over in the White House, Michelle's going to take a hike -- or insist that he does.

Put Big Bird aside & go for Big Julie* and ex-Speaker Slipper.

O'Big Bird Julie Is Dead.

"I told him. Don't go to the forum."

...-

"Let’s start there, with the Speaker of the House, Peter Slipper, who tearfully resigned after the aforementioned texts became public when a former staffer filed a sexual harassment complaint against him. In the texts, for which Slipper earlier apologized, he makes insulting comments about women, and as The Age reports, referred to female genitalia as “shell-less mussels.”"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/australian-pms-attack-against-opposition-leader-for-misogyny-and-sexism-goes-viral/article4598620/

*Wayne & Shuster:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR_5h8CzRcI

Down with Mao Stlong*.

...-

"Canada won’t say if national security exemption shuts Chinese company out of communications contract"

"OTTAWA — The Harper government is invoking a “national security exemption” as it hires firms to help build a secure communications network for Canada.

However, it is refusing to say if that exemption — which allows the government to discriminate against companies and nations considered security risks — will be used to block the Chinese company, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, from getting a contract.

The warning comes in the wake of a report earlier this week from the United States Congressional Intelligence Committee that labelled Huawei and another firm, ZTE Corp., as national security threats."

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Canada+national+security+exemption+shuts+Chinese+company/7365173/story.html

*Rae's uncle, c/o Red China.

The mark of the beast coming to a school near you.

http://rt.com/usa/news/texas-school-id-hernandez-033/

There Never Was a Protest In Benghazi

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/10/there-never-was-a-protest-in-benghazi.php

" ... there never was a protest at the consulate, as the Obama administration has always claimed. Rather, the first warning those inside the consulate had that something was wrong was an explosion. They looked out and saw a large number of armed men approaching. It was a terrorist attack, pure and simple, well-planned and well-executed. It had nothing to do with a YouTube video."

Diane Sawyer: " ... this is incredible breaking news tonight. Any explanation for the change in the story?"

She must be **itting bricks. Maybe the Congressional hearing tomorrow will shed some light on why the change in the story.

The Left's narrative in the States is falling apart.

wallyj @ 8:52 a.m.: "The Broadbent Institute has put together an ad for equality ..."

Wasn't Ed a double-dipper until he was exposed?

I reckon he must have been one of those who were more equal than others.

nv53, Broadbent's now a Limousine Leftist, living the good life far from the madding crowd, while asking the rest of us to back down, tighten our belts, and stop using the world's resources.

'Wonder how many times a year he flies?