The problem with Sarah Palin isn’t her problem

Ben Smith has a great post on the dreadful Vanity Fair piece on Sarah Palin (so bad that even left-wing feminists are speaking out against it). The article is just garbage, thin, weak, and factually incorrect all over the place. Ben attributes some of this to Palin speaking only with sympathetic news outlets. But newsflash: she’s not an elected official. She’s not the RNC head. She hasn’t announced candidacy for any position. Why should she speak to anyone she doesn’t want to? If I were her I would do the same thing. She has a rational distrust of the “lamestream” media, why should she let herself be badgered and pummeled when she achieves no goal from it. I wouldn’t. And her lack of access in no way excuses so-called journalists from getting an accurate story. That Vanity Fair “reported” that she used Trig as a prop at an event that Trig didn’t even attend is a travesty for journalism.

And sidenote: I used to love Vanity Fair. It was my go-to magazine. Until it progressively got dumber and dumber and I couldn’t pick it up anymore. I don’t mind a liberal slant, I understand that there is almost no mainstream magazine or newspaper without it (unless it is specifically conservative), but Vanity Fair bordered on the ridiculous and it crossed over into absurd with this article.

I love New York

But this Onion article really captures a feeling I’ve had once or a million times in my life.

Not news

Heather Robinson has the story of an Iranian woman about to be stoned to death on trumped up charges.

Amnesty International issued a statement:

“Amnesty International condemned the ’so-called’ confession and said the independence of Iran’s judiciary was ‘tattered’ by the broadcast. ‘This makes a complete mockery of the judiciary system in Iran,’ said Drewery Dyke of Amnesty’s Iran team.

I’m pretty sure the independence of Iran’s judiciary was “tattered” before.

Obama says something presidential!

Normally he’d find a way to turn a compliment into an insult, but tonight he said some nice, necessary, words about President Bush:

“As we do, I am mindful that the Iraq War has been a contentious issue at home. Here, too, it is time to turn the page. This afternoon, I spoke to former President George W. Bush. It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one could doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security. As I have said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hope for Iraq’s future

The moderate imam

I know you’re all as mosque’d out as I am, but it’s late August so it’s either this or shark attacks. The latest excellent mosque piece comes from my favorite liberal, Nat Hentoff. I dare anyone to challenge his commitment to the constitution and to freedom.

Wait for it

I’ve got a piece coming out in The Hill tomorrow, facing off Jill of Feministe, on everyone’s favorite topic: The Ground Zero Mosque.

For all the arguing over the mosque, we should remember not to let it get too heated, in particular because it’s unlikely to ever be built–and not because of the opposition to it.

Update: It’s up.

I’ll take my chances

In Forbes magazine, Daniel Freedman wonders “Are Vacations Bad For You?”

What country is this?

Pelosi: let’s investigate those who oppose the mosque.

Arguing on Facebook yesterday (I know, I know, how stupid) a professor of mine from NYU wrote that his friend, whose parents had survived the holocaust had compared the opposition to the mosque to Kristalnacht. When I pointed out that that was hysterical and anyway, we all know that he who brings up the holocaust automatically loses the argument, he called me a jerk and said I had stabbed his friend in the heart. After I had stopped laughing, I wrote my last comment on the thread noting that it was time to go when I’m stabbing people in their metaphorical hearts.

There is a segment of the population, on both sides, which has turned the mosque into the end-all-be-all for political fighting. But for all the hysteria, I hear most of the absolutely insane rhetoric from the pro-mosque side. When the speaker of the house calls for an investigation of Americans, you know things have gone completely off the deep end. I hope voters remember this in November.

Hat-tip on this story to my father who called me and said “You should start supporting the mosque. Leave the opposition to me. You’re young, have a whole life ahead of you without being investigated.”

Does Obama support the mosque at Ground Zero?

Who the hell knows.

Attorney general attends criminal’s birthday party

If New York elects a governor named Cuomo, it’s like America electing another president named Carter. It shows an unwillingness to learn. It will probably make us yearn for the few months of that governor who slept with hookers. Or that other governor who put the squeeze on a battered woman. Please, New Yorkers, don’t do it.

How hilarious is White House spokesman Gibbs asking if the “professional left” is on drugs?

Pretty darn.

Click the link for reactions for the professional left.

Yet more L.A. signs I don’t understand

We were in L.A. again last weekend (my husband goes for work and I sometimes tag along) and I saw yet another sign I don’t get:

Why is JFK telling hipsters to beware?

Also, is this Vincent Gallo or Joaquin Phoenix? And why are either on a poster like this?

A dead woman as proof we are losing in Afghanistan

Pregnant widow accused of adultery executed by Taliban

Hat-tip Anzhelika.

Here’s what I don’t get: this isn’t happening in some country no one has ever heard of, this is happening in U.S-occupied Afghanistan. And it’s not like they’re covert about it:

The 47-year-old woman, Sanam Gul, also known as Sanam Bibi, was killed in Badghis province Saturday morning, said Ashrafuddin Majidi, the provincial governor’s spokesman.

The district governor of Qades, Hashim Habibi, confirmed the execution. He said the woman was accused of adultery that left her pregnant. The Taliban shadow district governor, Mullah Abdul Hakim, and his judge ordered the woman to be executed, he said.

Mohammad Yousuf, a Taliban commander, carried out the execution, shooting the woman in her head, Habibi said.

It’s really past the time for us to ask ourselves: what are we doing in Afghanistan? I supported both wars when they began, and I supported their missions even when things went badly. But it just seems like a big joke now, when the Taliban is still running the place and laughing in our faces. What stops us from arresting Habibi, Majidi or Yousuf?

We can argue about whether we invaded Afghanistan to save pregnant widows from slaughter. But we can’t argue that we invaded to put an end to the Taliban, who in addition to behaving like animals, gave cover and support to Osama bin Laden. How has the most powerful military in the world not yet crushed these savages? The answer is, and talk to any military person who has served there to confirm this, that our leadership has tied the hands of our soldiers on the ground. In a war where we discuss everything ad nauseum before acting, it’s no surprise we are losing.

I want to hear from candidates, who wish to compete in 2012, about what they would do to win the wars we are currently waging. Not just how to leave, like our current president, but how to succeed in our smallest missions. How not to allow the Taliban to impose their murderous ways on a country filled with U.S. troops. How do we win today?

Uh, no

David Frum on, I think, how Levi Johnston should have married Bristol Palin:

Think for a minute: Why do people oppose same-sex marriage in the first place?

They do so because they fear that otherwise America’s young people will end up like … Bristol and Levi: having sex and raising children without regard to marriage.

For all the reasons I’ve heard that people oppose gay marriage, I have never, ever, heard that one. Because, see, having sex and raising children without marriage is what gay people are doing now. And, even without gay marriage, so are Bristol and Levi.

The case against the mosque at Ground Zero

John Hawkins has a round-up of excellent quotes opposing the mosque.

And as a reminder, no I still don’t hate Muslims, but thanks for asking.

The maddest of men

If you haven’t seen last night’s Mad Men, don’t click on.

Read the rest of this entry »

Atwitter

I’m co-hosting a conservative Twitter happy hour this Monday with Dorian Davis, Robert George and Billy Hallowell. It’ll be Monday 8/2 at O’Lunney’s, 210 W. 50th St. 7pm. It’s ok if you’re not on twitter but if you are, follow me here, Karolnyc, and the rest of the hosts at the links above.