NARRATIVE FAIL (CONT’D): The myth of the ‘racist’ Tea Party.
Archive for 2011
June 22, 2011
MORE ON THAT ATF GUN-SMUGGLING OPERATION: The Gang That Couldn’t Sting Straight.
What did Attorney General Eric Holder know — and when did he know it?
That’s the question congressional investigators are asking — and rightly so — about the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which stands exposed as having perpetrated one of the most bizarre gun-sting operations imaginable.
ATF’s acting director, Kenneth Melson, is expected to walk the plank any minute now over the failed stings — Project Gunrunner and Operation Fast and Furious.
But while his ouster is a necessary first step, it can’t be the last.
Not with so many questions still unanswered. . . . Holder has ordered the Justice Department inspector general to investigate — but all available evidence points to Washington, not the local ATF bureau, as being responsible for this fiasco.
Indeed.
JAMES TARANTO: The ‘Jim Crow’ Lie: How could asking for ID be discriminatory only when it comes to voting?
Today railroads and hotels, along with almost all providers of public accommodations in almost all circumstances, are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race. So what happens when you ride on Amtrak, the government-subsidized railroad? You hear an announcement over the PA system advising you to be prepared to show your identification if the conductor asks to see it.
Likewise, these days there is a good chance you will be asked for identification when you check into a hotel. You need ID to board an airplane or to drive a car. Recently we visited a doctor whose office is in a hospital. Just to enter the premises, we needed to present ID to a security guard.
If black people have trouble producing identification, how come nobody ever claims that these requirements are discriminatory?
Another important aspect of civil rights is equal employment opportunity. Under the 1986 immigration law, when you are hired for a job, you are required to provide your employer with documents proving both your identity and your citizenship or legal residency. How come nobody ever claims these requirements discriminate against blacks?
Because ACORN isn’t involved in faking things up there.
IT CERTAINLY DESERVES TO BE CRITICIZED: Obama’s Commerce Secretary Criticizes NLRB’s Suit Against Boeing.
WELL, HE DIDN’T ACTUALLY SAY NO, DID HE? “I’m gratified by Instapundit’s support, but I have no plans to run at this time.”
DISAPPEARING LAUGHTER at the White House. I think all forms of cheer are likely to become scarce there over the next year or so.
MORT ZUCKERMAN: Why The Jobs Situation Is Worse Than It Looks.
IS WEB ANONYMITY still alive and kicking?
NEARSIGHTEDNESS CAUSED BY not enough sun? “Researchers suspect that bright outdoor light helps children’s developing eyes maintain the correct distance between the lens and the retina — which keeps vision in focus. Dim indoor lighting doesn’t seem to provide the same kind of feedback. As a result, when children spend too many hours inside, their eyes fail to grow correctly and the distance between the lens and retina becomes too long, causing far-away objects to look blurry. . . . Luckily, there is a simple way to lower the risk of nearsightedness, and today, the summer solstice — the longest day of the year — is the perfect time to begin embracing it: get children to spend more time outside.”
So can we sue the health-nannies who told everyone to keep their kids out of the sun? You know, the way people would be trying to go after pharmaceutical companies that caused similar degrees of harm?
June 21, 2011
JENNIFER RUBIN: Huntsman Wins The Media Primary, Has Yet To Show GOP Support. “If a caucus or primary were held today, who thinks he’d get more votes than Ron Paul? I rest my case.” The Utah Tea Party folks don’t seem to be very impressed with him.
NLRB NOT EVEN IMPRESSING the Washington Post editorial board.
CHANGE: Dianne Feinstein Plunges In Polls:
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s popularity has plunged by double digits from her previous re-election ratings, according to a new Field Poll survey, demonstrating the toll that the anemic economy is taking on incumbent Democrats, including President Obama, heading into next year’s elections. . . . The result stunned poll director Mark DiCamillo, who said he initially dismissed as an aberration a similar outcome in a March poll that had one of the state’s most-popular politicians falling so far from favor. The nonpartisan Field Poll is considered one of the most reliable surveys in the state.
DiCamillo cited economic woes and the Tea Party’s influence on the state GOP as reasons for Feinstein’s weakened grip on the electorate. California’s 11.7 percent unemployment rate is second-highest in the nation after Nevada, and its housing market remains deeply depressed.
Sounds like time to rev up the Kaus For Senate campaign again!
THE WEAK HORSE: Osama bin Laden more popular in Egypt than President Obama.
Remember how electing Obama was supposed to make us popular with the Arab world?
JIM TREACHER: I’m talking about Michaele Salahi, which means she wins.
DAVE VODA’S BOOK, How To Protect Your Money From The Coming Government Hyperinflation is now #2 in Business Education on Amazon for Kindle.
MORE ON THAT ATF GUN-SMUGGLING CASE: Issa staffer: Gunrunner investigation points much higher than ATF director.
EDUCATING YOUNG EZRA: How did Obamacare get so screwed up?
KOS KIDZ RUNNING SCARED: Confirmed – Netroots Nation 2012 Chose Providence To Keep RightOnline Away. “I’ll leave the name calling to others, but it does not reflect well on Netroots Nation that it is so scared of right-bloggers that it feels forced to flee to a small market and enter into non-compete clauses with convention authorities and hotels.”
This bodes well. Bravely taking to his feet he beat a very bold retreat! And here, exclusively at InstaPundit, a sneak peek at the Netroots Nation 2012 promotional video:
UNEXPECTEDLY! Is Newspaper Coverage of Economic Events Politically Biased? Thanks to reader Matthew MacArthur for the tip.
ED MORRISSEY: A Tale Of Two Political Conferences.