Politico: Former President George W. Bush has turned down President Barack Obama’s invitation to join him at ground zero on Thursday, citing his desire to avoid the media glare.
"President Bush appreciated the invite, but has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight,” Bush spokesman David Sherzer told POLITICO in an email Tuesday night. “He continues to celebrate with all Americans this important victory in the war on terror.”
Obama — who has sharply criticized Bush for neglecting the hunt for bin Laden by invading Iraq — made the offer to Bush shortly after he decided on his New York trip, according to two people familiar with the situation. [MORE]
I wonder if Bush is being a classy guy or is he being politically astute in this decision?
On one hand, it is classy to allow Obama the full spotlight he has earned. Despite not catching Osama, much of what Bush did to keep us safe after 9/11 played an important role in finding Osama. Plus, there are still strong memories linking Bush to Ground Zero. Thus for Bush to attend, there is some possibility for him to steal a little of Obama's thunder.
On the other hand it would be politically wise not to attend, given that Obama has not missed a single opportunity to blame Bush and throw him under the bus for everything under the sun. Furthermore, Obama has been known to slam his invited guests (e.g. Paul Ryan during Obama's deficit speech). There is good reason for Bush to believe that his attendance was required only to serve as a visual punching bag for Obama.
Whatever the case maybe, we won't know for sure until Obama is out of office, because Bush follows the unofficial rule of past presidents not criticizing the current president.
Now that Osama Bin Ladin has been killed under Obama's watch, people are starting to wonder how this will effect Obama's political prospects for 2012. In the immediate future it is pretty obvious that Obama will get a bump in the polls, as well as he should. From all accounts Obama chose the more gutsy plan of sending in Navy Seals rather than a Tomahawk cruise missile. The payoff is that we have proof Osama is dead.
The only way I see Osama's death translating into guaranteed votes for Obama in 2012, is if we suffer another attack and Obama makes a credible case that he is the one who will get us justice. Other than that, Obama can only use the killing of Osama to deflect Republican criticism that he is weak when it comes to fighting terrorism.
For Republican's challenging Obama in 2012, the need to sharpen their attacks and messages on the economy has become even more crucial. They must also not get too far ahead of themselves in praising Obama's success. If they do, they risk taking the War On Terror completely off the table in 2012.
National Journal:I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude.
This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.
Mitt Romney's Facebook Page:This is a great victory for lovers of freedom and justice everywhere.
Congratulations to our intelligence community, our military and the president. My thoughts are with the families of Osama bin Laden's many thousands of victims, and the brave servicemen and women who have laid down their lives in pursuit of this murderous terrorist.
Sarah Palin's Facebook Page:Americans tonight are united in celebration and gratitude. God bless all the brave men and women in our military and our intelligence services who contributed to carrying out the successful mission to bring Bin Laden to justice and who laid the groundwork over the years to make this victory possible. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of these brave Americans who relentlessly hunted down our enemy.
This is a victory for the American people, for the victims who were heartlessly murdered on September 11 and in Al Qaeda’s other numerous attacks, and for all the peace-loving people of the world.
May God bless our troops and our intelligence services, and God bless America!
When we were attacked on September 11, 2001, many from the Culture of Death partied in the streets of the Middle East. Yesterday, it was our turn to do the Snoopy Dance of Victory! In this age of declining American influence and resolve, it is good to have a reminder of what we are capable of as a nation.
ABC News:Osama bin Laden, hunted as the mastermind behind the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, has been killed, President Obama announced tonight.
The president called the killing of bin Laden the "most significant achievement to date" in the effort to defeat al Qaeda.
"Justice has been done," Obama said.
Bin Laden was located at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, which was monitored and when the time was determined to be right, the president said, he authorized a "targeted operation." "A small team of Americans carried out the operation," Obama said. "After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."
DNA testing confirmed that it was bin Laden, sources told ABC News. [MORE]
This is great news, we finally have some justice and have caught the mastermind of 9/11. Sooner or later there will be the typical left vs. right perspective on this event, but we really should just rejoice as Americans for having justice served.
I do find it interesting that Eric Holder's prediction came true. For Obama, this is a feather in his cap going into the 2012 elections.
On the down side, we should all gird our loins because no doubt the Islamic extremists will now be motivated to strike back. Hopefully, the clown patrol (Janet Napolitano and James Clapper) will be on point and ready for any retaliation.
Being the cynic that I am, I think Obama finally caved on the birth certificate issue to cover up this major piece of bad news.
CNBC: In his first regular news conference, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank was continuing its stimulus policy because it was projecting slower growth in the economy with only a modest uptick in inflation. The Fed cut its growth estimate for 2011 to between 3.1 percent and 3.3 percent from a January forecast of 3.4 percent to 3.9 percent.
The Fed also raised its estimate of inflation this year to a range of 2.1 percent to 2.8 percent, taking into account a recent surge in oil prices. However, it bumped its core inflation forecasts only marginally to a 1.3 percent to 1.6 percent range.
As for unemployment, it lowered its forecast but said it would stay elevated over its three-year forecast period. For 2011, the Fed said it expects the unemployment rate to land in a 8.4-8.7 percent range, better than a range of 8.8-9.0 percent forecast in January. [MORE]
So basically we can look forward to unemployment staying at these level and finally the Fed admits to what we have long known, inflation is here. Bernanke did not take responsibility for fueling inflation with Quantitative Easing (Q.E. 1 & 2).
Bernanke said the Fed would continue with bond buying (buying our own debt).
The statement marked the conclusion — at least for now — of the massive expansion of the Fed's balance sheet that helped pull the economy out of its deep recession.
"On policy, the statement confirms that (the bond buying) is over but otherwise leaves everything on the table subject to regular review 'in light of incoming information,'" said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Pierpont Securities.
Still, the central bank said it would continue to reinvest proceeds from maturing securities it holds to keep its economic support in place, ensuring it would remain a big buyer in debt markets.
Search across the net and you will have to do some digging to find any real discussion on this matter, even though Bernanke's first press conference was getting a lot of attention days before. You can thanks the birthers and Trump for moving this story to the back pages. Too bad, because this is the real type of issue that will defeat Obama in 2012.
Well, here is the much talked about and anxiously awaited long form birth certificate. Will this end the birther theory? Heck no. Why? Because conspiracy theories never die. The time to have killed the birther theory was two years ago when the issue started to percolate. One of the main reasons why the birther theory will live on, is because there really is no good answer to the very simple question "what took so long"? Based on that alone, birthers will look for all kinds of new evidence. Already, there is a "layer theory" forming.
I think Obama kept the birther issue going on for so long, is because it was politically advantageous to him. He, with the help of the media, was able to discredit anyone who asked questions about the birth certificate. Had the media simply been curious as to why Obama wouldn't do a simple thing like releasing the document, the nation might have been spared the whole birther thing and the rise of Donald Trump.
Speaking of Trump, I do fear that the release will put more wind in his sails. Already Trump has now started asking for college records. Some folks on the right, be they birthers or not, might get a little awestruck, because Trump stood his ground against the naysayers. As a result Trump effectively got Obama to do someone no one else could get him to do. To those folks I say; admire Trump's tenacity, but understand fully that Trump is not a conservative. Supporting Trump is at best supporting a eclectic bag of principles or at worst is supporting a complete poser. Buyer beware.
"I will not be a candidate for president next year. This has been a difficult, personal decision, and I am very grateful to my family for their total support of my going forward, had that been what I decided.
"Hundreds of people have encouraged me to run and offered both to give and raise money for a presidential campaign. Many volunteers have organized events in support of my pursuing the race. Some have dedicated virtually full time to setting up preliminary organizations in critical, early states and to helping plan what has been several months of intensive activity.
"I greatly appreciate each and every one of them and all their outstanding efforts. If I have disappointed any of them in this decision, I sincerely regret it.
"A candidate for president today is embracing a ten-year commitment to an all-consuming effort, to the virtual exclusion of all else. His (or her) supporters expect and deserve no less than absolute fire in the belly from their candidate. I cannot offer that with certainty, and total certainty is required.
"This decision means I will continue my job as Governor of Mississippi, my role in the Republican Governors Association and my efforts to elect a new Republican president in 2012, as the stakes for the nation require that effort to be successful."
Well that has to be the most sensible thing I have seen from all the establishment hopefuls. Other than party insiders, did anyone else ever get excited over the idea of "President Barbour"?
Haley Barbour seemed best suited for elections past rather than the new political environment of today. Especially now that much of the conservative base have become activists, old school candidates like Barbour seem terribly obsolete. The current setting favors more dynamic candidates like West, Palin, Cain, Rubio or Bachmann.
There’s a new story at WaPo this morning about the Daniels’s presidential Hamlet act in which he describes his thinking at this point as “muddled.” Barbour dropping out will help clarify things a bit since, if Daniels does run, he’s now practically guaranteed Barbour’s endorsement and fundraising help. Barbour might not make it to the White House on his own, but if he joins forces with Mitch the Knife, he could get there as VP, chief of staff, or in any number of other roles. He’s a bottom-line kind of guy, and that’d be a shrewd bottom-line calculation. Now all Daniels has to do is play ball.
Whatever the case maybe, we should be grateful that there will be one less obsolete establishment candidate in the mix.
Iran Just Declared Reality a Prohibited Zone
-
I can’t lie. I’m going to miss the Iranians. Not the terrorism,
hostage-taking or chanting mobs. I’m going to miss the comedy. Iran’s
leaders possess a spe...
Oprah’s hashtag moment at the Golden Globes
-
First published January 8, 2018 in the Toronto Sun In case you ever
questioned the mainstream media’s liberal bias (and why Trump justifiably
loathes them)...
We've Moved
-
I thought you should know that this site has moved on with the times.
Goodbye Google! Hello WordPress! The name has been changed to *Black and
Center: Th...
The Immorality of Abortion
-
Abortion, put simply, is murder and therefore cannot be codified by our
government. Thereby, allowing it under Medicaid and other measures they are
not onl...
On Independence Day, We Must Be Mindful
-
Happy Independence Day, everyone. God bless America!
"God bless America" is more than a phrase we throw around. Current times
truly reveal how much we nee...
What Christians Should Remember on Passover
-
Each year the festival commemorating the Exodus, and the deliverance of the
Israelites from slavery in Egypt is held. "During *Passover*, unleavened
bread...
Understanding the Progressive Mind
-
Understanding the Progressive Mind Kevin Williamson does a great job
outlining what it is progs believe and how conservatives miss it with them.
An excell...
The Esoteric (Hidden) Agenda
-
It's been said that intelligence is the ability to recognize patterns,
work with abstract symbols, and see relationships. Therefore it is
difficult to fa...
Listen To the Rhythm Of The Fallen Left
-
This sound bite sums up the liberal philosophy and their expectations of
our government. It comes from the Whitnall Rotary Club meeting on 9/6/2012
where R...
Let's Do It Again!
-
The start of President Obama's third year is barely under way and he is off
doing what he has done for the first two years; and that is campaigning. He
is...
LEAN FORWARD? Uh-- no thanks.
-
MSNBC, the bastion for all things liberal announced a new "re-branding" ad
campaign with the tag-line *"Lean Forward"*. Hilarious. For starters, this
is ...
Are There Racists in the Tea Party?
-
Our latest podcast: Are There Racists in the Tea Party? Podcaster: Marie
Stroughter Summary: Marie puts the undue concern regarding “racists in the
Tea Par...
HOW BUSINESS DEALS WITH THE SLIDING ECONOMY
-
“Companies have learned not to keep so many clothes on the rack, not to
keep so much inventory, and unfortnaley have had to lay off a lot of
people.” She ...
Jonah and the Child Killers
-
When I read stuff like this, doing something to generate endorphins helps
control the blood-boiling anger. Praying helps, too. I find the story of
Jonah mo...
I am a black conservative from a black conservative family. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and finally settled in New Jersey. Throughout my life I knew I did not share many of the common beliefs of other American blacks.
For starters, I never took to the term African-American. I have meet too many real Africans who are now Americans, to ever with a straight face say we share something in common other than skin tones. Their history and culture is truly a unique and is a completely different experience from my own. My culture is distinctly American, from the way I speak, think, dress and act and you know what else? I love it! So for me, I will always be an American who just happens to be black.
I put myself and my beliefs out here in cyberspace, to show my fellow blacks that there is something more. That one need not accept the false promise of the next social program, the belief in government as savior or the next Democratic candidate will right all wrongs. That true Hope and Change comes from belief in yourself, in a nation that allows dynamic movement if you are bold enough, smart enough and brave enough to make it happen.
Posts
