Meanwhile, it's being reported that Eric Holder is meeting with CAIR.

Yuck.

Anita Dunn -she was the one with the Mao and Mother Teresa thing, wasn't she?

This move has nothing to do with the Fox News issues, however — she was planning to leave from the beginning.

A little fact like that won't stop certain somebodies from "taking credit", though.

This move has nothing to do with the Fox News issues, however — she was planning to leave from the beginning.

Wingnuts will claim victory anyways.

re: #2 Guanxi88

Anita Dunn -she was the one with the Mao and Mother Teresa thing, wasn't she?

I can hear it now, her farewell speech.

"Just think of all the fun you'll be missing. You won't have Anita Dunn to kick around anymore."

Beck will hail this as a victory anyways.

re: #4 Killgore Trout

GMTA, my friend.

"she was planning to leave from the beginning."

Oh yeah. That's right.

Fact is that she was briefed on my next chalkboard expose of her in which I use two whole sticks of chalk to link her with the water fluoridation conspiracy! That was not something that she would have been able to talk around!

re: #8 That's Glenn Beck to you

"she was planning to leave from the beginning."

Oh yeah. That's right.

Fact is that she was briefed on my next chalkboard expose of her in which I use two whole sticks of chalk to link her with the water fluoridation conspiracy!

So that explains why I've never seen her drink a glass of water!

re: #4 Killgore Trout

Wingnuts will claim victory anyways.

I would upding you but the Communist/Maoist/Stalinist conspiracy keeps my updinging confined until I have 50 posts.

re: #10 That's Glenn Beck to you

I would upding you but the Communist/Maoist/Stalinist conspiracy keeps my updinging confined until I have 50 posts.

Just 2 more to go.

re: #6 Sharmuta

Beck will hail this as a victory anyways.

It is! The plot to force children to ingest fluoride and then sing in unison to Barack Obama (which is a known side effect of fluoride) has been foiled!

Don't let the doorknob hit you where the Good Lord split ya!

re: #12 That's Glenn Beck to you

It is! The plot to force children to ingest fluoride and then sing in unison to Barack Obama (which is a known side effect of fluoride) has been foiled!

What about my precious bodily fluids?
//

Reports of Hostage Situation In Governor's Office Building

Nothing is done until Dunn is done!

And now Dunn is done, and things can get done!

//Say what?!?!

re: #14 rwdflynavy

What about my precious bodily fluids?
//

ice cream, mandrake! Children's ice cream.

Michelle Malkin (of dubious credentials) is claiming that she's looking at the White House Counsel position. Supposedly the current counsel is planning on stepping down.

Take with the appropriately sized grain of salt.

I'm sure the loons will hail this as a great victory.

re: #15 Killgore Trout

Reports of Hostage Situation In Governor's Office Building

We got that, the deal in Missori earlier, the high school principal thing in upstate Ny, the orlando shooting - WTF is going on?

Anita is Dunn like dinner.

re: #18 vxbush

Take with the appropriately sized grain of salt.

I don't have a salt shaker that big!

re: #14 rwdflynavy

What about my precious bodily fluids?
//

There is no fighting in the War Room!

re: #14 rwdflynavy

What about my precious bodily fluids?
//

Keep them to yourself.

re: #20 Guanxi88

It's probably just a domestic thing or a disgruntled employee.

Her husband is Robert Bauer

a partner at Perkins Coie, a law firm. He is President Barack Obama's personal attorney and has been the general counsel of the Obama for America presidential campaign since January 2007. He is also the general counsel to the Democratic National Committee

No idea who his favorite philosophers are.

Is she the one who worked for ABC?

re: #26 abolitionist

Her husband is Robert Bauer

No idea who his favorite philosophers are.

Now, that's suspicious in and of itself.

/

If Obama follows up Dunn's departure with an exclusive Fox interview I'm gonna puke.

Oh yea sure, she was planning on leaving from the beginning. Nice cop out. I'd never even paid attention to who Anita Dunn was before all this hullabaloo via Glenn Beck. But let's not give any credit to him or FoxNews. If she was planning on leaving from the beginning what the hell took her so long?

re: #30 Maui Girl

Oh yea sure, she was planning on leaving from the beginning. Nice cop out. I'd never even paid attention to who Anita Dunn was before all this hullabaloo via Glenn Beck. But let's not give any credit to him or FoxNews. If she was planning on leaving from the beginning what the hell took her so long?

Maybe she'll get a job in China since she is such a fan.

re: #30 Maui Girl

If she was planning on leaving from the beginning what the hell took her so long?

At first it was all fun and games, but now she has to answer to the Coca-Cola company.

re: #30 Maui Girl

Oh yea sure, she was planning on leaving from the beginning. Nice cop out. I'd never even paid attention to who Anita Dunn was before all this hullabaloo via Glenn Beck. But let's not give any credit to him or FoxNews. If she was planning on leaving from the beginning what the hell took her so long?

Yeah, that whole "interim" in her position was all just cover!

/

I assume all of BO's staff is planning to leave at sometime. The question is when? Nice spin!

re: #30 Maui Girl

Interim: A transitional or temporary period between other events; transitional; temporary

re: #25 Killgore Trout

It's probably just a domestic thing or a disgruntled employee.

I know, I just mean in general - like there's a rash of this stuff.

re: #35 bosforus

Interim: A transitional or temporary period between other events; transitional; temporary

They're sneaky like that.

re: #36 Guanxi88

I know, I just mean in general - like there's a rash of this stuff.

Chemtrails?

re: #35 bosforus

Interim: A transitional or temporary period between other events; transitional; temporary

2nd definition: Not yet thrown under the bus!!

Beep Beep!

re: #36 Guanxi88

I know, I just mean in general - like there's a rash of this stuff.

Holiday season coming up.

re: #18 vxbush

Michelle Malkin (of dubious credentials) is claiming that she's looking at the White House Counsel position. Supposedly the current counsel is planning on stepping down.

Take with the appropriately sized grain of salt.

Actually, she is suggesting that Dunn's husband (Robert Bauer, a Washington, D.C. corporate lawyer who served as general counsel for Obama for America) is rumored to be in line for the spot as WH Counsel.

re: #35 bosforus

Interim: A transitional or temporary period between other events; transitional; temporary

you can actually say that backwards and it still works

re: #31 rwdflynavy

Maybe she'll get a job in China since she is such a fan.

No room for mao love in the PRC. That whole Gang of Four deal.

re: #34 kilroy

I assume all of BO's staff is planning to leave at sometime. The question is when? Nice spin!

Uh- it's not uncommon for people to leave administrations for a variety of reasons. Press secretaries actually have a very high turnover rate.

re: #8 That's Glenn Beck to you
The tension mounts as That's Glenn Beck to you approaches 50. Next up: fireworks and champagne.

She should be replaced by Kumar. It just feels right.

It doesn't matter when anybody in the Obama administration leaves, regardless of whether or not it was a temporary position, it will be seen as a "Republican victory" by somebody.

I think this calls for an Airplane moment:

Simon: Gentlemen, I'd like you to meet your captain, Captain Oveur.
Clarence Oveur: Gentlemen, welcome aboard.
Simon: Captain, your navigator, Mr. Unger, and your first officer, Mr. Dunn.
Clarence Oveur: Unger.
Unger: Oveur.
Dunn: Oveur.
Clarence Oveur: Dunn. Gentlemen, let's get to work.
Simon: Unger, didn't you serve under Oveur in the Air Force?
Unger: Not directly. Technically, Dunn was under Oveur and I was under Dunn.
Dunn: Yep.
Simon: So, Dunn, you were under Oveur and over Unger.
Unger: Yep.
Clarence Oveur: That's right. Dunn was over Unger and I was over Dunn.
Unger: So, you see, both Dunn and I were under Oveur, even though I was under Dunn.
Clarence Oveur: Dunn was over Unger, and I was over Dunn.

re: #45 Stuart Leviton

The tension mounts as That's Glenn Beck to you approaches 50. Next up: fireworks and champagne.

Bill O'Reily breaks it all down for you tonight at eight.

I think we all have interim positions here on the planet. What's definition of "is" and are we ever "alone". All great spins.

re: #48 abbyadams

I think this calls for an Airplane moment:

Roger, Roger.
We have clearance, Clarence.

re: #34 kilroy

I assume all of BO's staff is planning to leave at sometime. The question is when? Nice spin!

When they are no longer useful or become a liability to the Administration?

re: #44 Sharmuta

Uh- it's not uncommon for people to leave administrations for a variety of reasons. Press secretaries actually have a very high turnover rate.

If I had to deal with reporters every day without the option of calling them bastards or being allowed to smack them upside the head, I'd resign soon too.

re: #47 bosforus

It doesn't matter when anybody in the Obama administration leaves, regardless of whether or not it was a temporary position, it will be seen as a "Republican victory" by somebody.

It's George Bush's fault that they are leaving, you know!

//Practicing

re: #50 kilroy

I think we all have interim positions here on the planet. What's definition of "is" and are we ever "alone". All great spins.

Spin? It might be spin if she hadn't been referred to as "interim" from day one with a stated expiration of her position as of 12/31/09. To suggest that the interim positions is no excuse and something is being hidden or someone "won" something here is just, well, spin.

re: #19 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I'm sure the loons will hail this as a great victory.

Yep.

re: #50 kilroy

I think we all have interim positions here on the planet. What's definition of "is" and are we ever "alone". All great spins.

Interim positions at the White House are better than intern positions. I heard those jobs really blow.

Meanwhile, the NYT today confirms that intelligence officials scrutinized Fort Hood's murderous Maj. Hasan for his contacts with the Yemeni terrorist imam Awlaki, but decided there was nothing bad about a Muslim psychiatrist who ranted about Koranic hellfire at medical lectures and thought suicide bombers were worthy of praise. Nothing to see here. No action warranted. Send him off to his next assignment.

If that's not political correctness run amok, I don't know what is.

Maj. Hasan was a terrorist, and his victims were also victims of misplaced compassion for the wrong person. He needed preventive custody, not therapy.

re: #57 baier

Interim positions at the White House are better than intern positions. I heard those jobs really blow.

*FACEPALM*

re: #59 SteveC

*FACEPALM*

Better a palm in the face than...

re: #56 Spare O'Lake

Loons are such beautiful birds. It's a shame we have to co-opt that name for a group of crazy humans.

re: #41 Univac

Actually, she is suggesting that Dunn's husband (Robert Bauer, a Washington, D.C. corporate lawyer who served as general counsel for Obama for America) is rumored to be in line for the spot as WH Counsel.

Wha?

[gotta go back and check]

Yup, you're right. My bad. I had read the article earlier today, and my brain cells stored the info wrong.

Dunn will return to Squier Knapp Dunn

If I was just coming back as the White House Communications Director, I might want to have the plaque and letter-head redrawn to read...

Dunn Knapp Squier...

or

Dunn Squire Knapp...

Just sayin...

re: #60 Guanxi88

Better a palm in the face than...

And I thought you would say something crude, like how only the best interns get promoted to the President's staff.

re: #63 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

It's not a requirement, but the order usually indicates seniority rather than who can bill the highest per hour.

re: #64 SteveC

And I thought you would say something crude, like how only the best interns get promoted to the President's staff.

nah, i'm too classy for that.

re: #58 Cato the Elder

If that's not political correctness run amok, I don't know what is.

Maj. Hasan was a terrorist, and his victims were also victims of misplaced compassion for the wrong person. He needed preventive custody, not therapy.

That is the result of our overly therapeutic society, IMHO. It's always some disease, malady or other fault, not the individuals' own flawed character.

re: #30 Maui Girl

Oh yea sure, she was planning on leaving from the beginning. Nice cop out. I'd never even paid attention to who Anita Dunn was before all this hullabaloo via Glenn Beck. But let's not give any credit to him or FoxNews. If she was planning on leaving from the beginning what the hell took her so long?

What took her so long? Nothing! She was always planning on leaving:

The passing of the baton from Dunn to Pfeiffer had long been expected within White House circles as she had made clear when she took the job that the "interim" in her title was meant to be taken literally.

Excuse her for staying to do a job she said she do for a period of time, and staying for the actual period of time she said she'd stay for. Trying to morph this into something it isn't is just silly.

re: #65 charlz

Like I said, just sayin...

Could start my own firm pretty quickly with my name first...and my money first...and my desires first...and my ideas first...

re: #67 His Favorite Heretic

That is the result of our overly therapeutic society, IMHO. It's always some disease, malady or other fault, not the individuals' own flawed character.

This was not Sudden Something Anything Syndrome.

re: #67 His Favorite Heretic

That is the result of our overly therapeutic society, IMHO. It's always some disease, malady or other fault, not the individuals' own flawed character.

It's our fault, we just don't understand...

re: #67 His Favorite Heretic

That is the result of our overly therapeutic society, IMHO. It's always some disease, malady or other fault, not the individuals' own flawed character.

Well, you can't arrest someone for having a flawed character. But carrying on a friendly correspondence with a known anti-American imam while you're a military psychiatrist on active duty? I should think that would at least be grounds for some kind of disciplinary action.

Apparently I just don't get it.

re: #65 charlz

I still feel for a star struck 21 year old that gets thrown in with pretend adults...

re: #64 SteveC

And I thought you would say something crude, like how only the best interns get promoted to the President's staff.

Someone has to make sure the President's pen is at hand.

re: #58 Cato the Elder

CBC reported (? I don't know, can they be trusted?) anyway, CBC reported that the FBI notified military officials, and nothing was done about it. So, it may be a combo here -- FBI decides, "heh, what the hay", followed by the military saying, "heh, what the hay..no problemo." (A CNN person noted that this guy, Hasan, had a dossier on him a mile long.)

A lovely email through the contact form to start the day off right, from someone in Springfield, Missouri:

You are a piece of garbage who clearly needs to have a heart attack due to your cholesterol-clogged arteries.

You suck muslim cock as hard as your ex wife used to suck my cock when you were out on a gig.

re: #70 Walter L. Newton

This was not Sudden Something Anything Syndrome.

No, this was If You Opened Your Damn Eyes You'd See the Train Coming Syndrome.

Heads must roll. High-up, PC, military heads.

re: #72 Cato the Elder

Well, you can't arrest someone for having a flawed character. But carrying on a friendly correspondence with a known anti-American imam while you're a military psychiatrist on active duty? I should think that would at least be grounds for some kind of disciplinary action.

Apparently I just don't get it.

nice guys finish last...life can be such a bitch especially if you walk around with your head up your ass...we are so naive

re: #68 Sharmuta

Maui Girl : Oh yea sure, she was planning on leaving from the beginning. Nice cop out. I'd never even paid attention to who Anita Dunn was before all this hullabaloo via Glenn Beck. But let's not give any credit to him or FoxNews. If she was planning on leaving from the beginning what the hell took her so long?

Sharmuta : What took her so long? Nothing! She was always planning on leaving:

I agree. Glenn Beck is not effective in bringing anyone down. I've been trying to say that all along, and you put it so succinctly.

Some people on the left keep giving him too much power.

re: #76 Charles

Classy!
//

re: #76 Charles

WTF? someone's a real dick.

re: #76 Charles

A lovely email through the contact form to start the day off right, from someone in Springfield, Missouri:

yikes!...that should go in the Special File...

re: #77 Cato the Elder

No, this was If You Opened Your Damn Eyes You'd See the Train Coming Syndrome.

Heads must roll. High-up, PC, military heads.

I'm going to steal that, combine it with my phrase and go whip someone on another blog.

re: #77 Cato the Elder

CNN is also reporting that there are going to be (not one but) multiple investigations...

re: #76 Charles

I love how the creature has to say the cause of the heart attack. It's the little details that make the difference.

re: #81 RogueOne

WTF? someone's got a tiny real dick.

FTFY

Sarah Palin knew she ws going to quit right off, too...

re: #87 ralphieboy

Sarah Palin knew she ws going to quit right off, too...

Geez, she was just the interim Governor.
//

re: #76 Charles

Charles... lay off the red meat, it'll help your arteries.
/

re: #84 J.S.

CNN is also reporting that there are going to be (not one but) multiple investigations...

Well, I'm certainly reassured by that. Buncha panels and experts, with "missed opportunities" here and there, communications breakdowns" gravely noted, a couple low-level guys get canned, and life goes on as normal, with the problem neither solved nor even discussed. Typical.

(ot)
re: #58 Cato the Elder

[snip]
If that's not political correctness run amok, I don't know what is.
[snip]

Being sacked by the Pentagon because a colleague calls you a "zellot with a pen"?

re: #91 Guanxi88

You're being far too pessimistic here...(you might be able to say that after the investigations, ok?)

re: #90 Kilroy

So... you agree with the sender of a hate email?

re: #92 abolitionist

(ot)

Being sacked by the Pentagon because a colleague calls you a "zellot with a pen"?

[Link: article.nationalreview.com...]

Coughlin affair.

re: #81 RogueOne

WTF? someone's a real dick.

This man has no dick.

/Well that's what I heard!

re: #93 J.S.

You're being far too pessimistic here...(you might be able to say that after the investigations, ok?)

I'll try to look surprised when it happens, but offer no guarantees.

re: #92 abolitionist

(ot)

Being sacked by the Pentagon because a colleague calls you a "zellot with a pen"?

Zealot

re: #91 Guanxi88

Well, I'm certainly reassured by that. Buncha panels and experts, with "missed opportunities" here and there, communications breakdowns" gravely noted, a couple low-level guys get canned, and life goes on as normal, with the problem neither solved nor even discussed. Typical.

Kinda like what's happened to the thieves on Wall Street. Madoff was a scapegoat, while the folks who made off with the real swag from the real Ponzi schemes walk around giving the finger to the rest of us.

re: #90 Kilroy

Obviously, YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG!!!

re: #99 Cato the Elder

Kinda like what's happened to the thieves on Wall Street. Madoff was a scapegoat, while the folks who made off with the real swag from the real Ponzi schemes walk around giving the finger to the rest of us.

Bingo! The recurring pattern, and indeed, evidently protocol these days.

re: #76 Charles

Do you search for such classy friends?

re: #76 Charles

A lovely email through the contact form to start the day off right, from someone in Springfield, Missouri:

Stay classy, Missouri!

re: #90 Kilroy

Sort of like I felt when my account was blocked! At least the first sentence.

Excuse me? Are you serious?

re: #90 Kilroy

Evidenly you learned nothing from your little time out?

re: #105 Walter L. Newton

Walter? The play original? Seems like a killer cool idea.

re: #103 Alouette

Stay classy, Missouri!

Missouri, discoverd by the Germans in 1903, its name means "Whale's vagina."

re: #106 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Walter? The play original? Seems like a killer cool idea.

You mean the one we are opening Friday?

*crickets*

It's only natural to wish death on a blog owner that won't let you post comments.
/

re: #104 Charles

No! Sarcasm.

re: #109 Sharmuta

*crickets*

*stomp*

Got one.

re: #109 Sharmuta

*crickets*

really...what a crazy thing to say

re: #99 Cato the Elder

Kinda like what's happened to the thieves on Wall Street. Madoff was a scapegoat, while the folks who made off with the real swag from the real Ponzi schemes walk around giving the finger to the rest of us.

OT -

Madoff wiped out the Elie Wiesel Foundation

re: #90 Kilroy

Sort of like I felt when my account was blocked! At least the first sentence.

I guess we should add, "when my account was blocked THE FIRST TIME."

re: #92 abolitionist

Being sacked by the Pentagon because a colleague calls you a "zellot with a pen"?

Try "being seriously investigated and reprimanded (at the very least) for friendly contact with the enemy during wartime"...does that work for you?

re: #104 Charles

Excuse me? Are you serious?

I don't even know what he's trying to say. Is he talking about the first part of the e-mail you received, or the first part of the post he made that got him the time out?

Might end up giving new meaning to the phrase Kilroy Was Here.

re: #111 Kilroy

No! Sarcasm.

No sarcasm, eh?

re: #76 Charles

Wow.
You need a spam filter for email which contains sick words like "ex-wife".

Of course! Sarcasm. Just like Rush.

re: #104 Charles

Excuse me? Are you serious?

re: #111 Kilroy

No! Sarcasm.

Backpedal, son. Backpedal!

re: #121 SteveC

Backpedal, son. Backpedal!

FEIGN DEATH! DUMP AGRO!

/WOW mode off

re: #122 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

FEIGN DEATH! DUMP AGRO!

/WOW mode off

Sell! SELL IT ALL!

re: #117 subsailor68

I was confused by it, too. Who in their right mind confesses to having feelings that someone was dead?

re: #120 Sharmuta

Of course! Sarcasm. Just like Rush.

SATIRE*!

*satirical content not guaranteed.

Kilroy was here.

re: #116 Cato the Elder

Can you imagine for a moment the "instructor" listening to a presentation praising suicide bombers, then, as the instructor, you say, "Hey, Yeah, now that's Spot On! There's a Passing Grade for You, bro..."

re: #123 SteveC

Sell! SELL IT ALL!

LOOK OUT! A HUGE DISTRACTING THING!

/ducks

re: #108 Walter L. Newton

Yeah.

re: #99 Cato the Elder

Kinda like what's happened to the thieves on Wall Street. Madoff was a scapegoat, while the folks who made off with the real swag from the real Ponzi schemes walk around giving the finger to the rest of us.

Congress?
//kinda

Still logged on yet silent. He's either writing up an explanation or trying to ride it out. I'd suggest the latter be done off line to make it look like a misunderstood out of context statement.

Sarc tags are your friend, but joking about death wishes made to your host is probably not the best use of sarcasm.

re: #131 bosforus

Still logged on yet silent. He's either writing up an explanation or trying to ride it out. I'd suggest the latter be done off line to make it look like a misunderstood out of context statement.

He's dead, Jim

re: #133 SteveC

He's dead, Jim... you get his tri-corder, I'll get his wallet...

re: #104 Charles

Excuse me? Are you serious?

Ruh roh Raggy!!!

re: #127 J.S.

Can you imagine for a moment the "instructor" listening to a presentation praising suicide bombers, then, as the instructor, you say, "Hey, Yeah, now that's Spot On! There's a Passing Grade for You, bro..."

No, but then I also find it hard to imagine someone who is supposed to give a talk about PTSD instead ranting about infernal Koranic punishments and walking away with nothing but a puzzled note in his official record, if that. His colleagues were appalled, but what came of it? Nothing.

Can you imagine a Christian psychiatrist getting away with approvingly reciting gruesome details from Dante's Inferno at what was supposed to be a medical symposium?

This guy was given pass after pass after pass.

re: #132 Sharmuta

Sarc tags are your friend, but joking about death wishes made to your host is probably not the best use of sarcasm.

In fact I can find nothing in it that meets any known definition of "sarcasm".

re: #137 Cato the Elder

In fact I can find nothing in it that meets any known definition of "sarcasm".

I agree. He blew it.

Gotta go. Training meeting. Fun. At least lunch is provided.

re: #136 Cato the Elder

I blame it on PC.

PC sometimes goes a bit too far.

The shootings? I blame on him.

re: #129 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Yeah.

No, it's not an original script by our theatre. The "radio" play version of "It's A Wonderful Life" was adapted from the movie by Joe Landry in 1997 and available from Playscripts Inc.

The idea of having the "radio actors" characters in the show convey to the audience that they are sort of "living" some of the emotions from the story for "real" with in their characters was developed by our director, Rob Kramer.

It's typical of a director to find something "special," his own touch, his own spin on a script. That's one of the directors jobs.

In short, no, that idea is not in the script at all.

re: #138 Spare O'Lake

I agree. He blew it.

Kilroy: "Oh my God, what's that over there?!"

[Lizards all look where he's pointing, Kilroy switches the wine goblets, chuckles to himself]

Sorry, Kilroy, we all saw the movie...

re: #137 Cato the Elder

In fact I can find nothing in it that meets any known definition of "sarcasm".

Obviously, you don't have access to the Newspeak dictionary, 10th edition. Its plusbig on adjectives and sarcasm.

re: #134 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

*Batman's rope breaks; he falls and is immediately shot by the Joker's gang*

Hey... this is some kind of armor. He's human after all!

Who is he?

Check his wallet!

re: #140 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I blame it on PC.

PC sometimes goes a bit too far.

The shootings? I blame on him.

At this point I think we can safely say the shootings might not have happened if certain people had not repeatedly turned PC-blinded eyes to warning signs as big as Texas.

re: #141 Walter L. Newton

Cool as the other side of the pillow, that.

re: #145 Cato the Elder

At this point I think we can safely say the shootings might not have happened if certain people had not repeatedly turned PC-blinded eyes to warning signs as big as Texas.

And if he had not pulled out guns and started shooting people.

another bomb in a Paki market...at least 24 dead

Dunn declared quite clearly that Mao was one of the two people she turned to most.

If that doesn't make her a commie sympathiser = as against a critic of communism - what does ?

So how is it a "smear" to bring this to public attention ?

And then there was the video on how the Obama cmpaign manipulated an already-compliant media.

Sure, it was known that she had taken the job on an interin basis, Beck can't claim any scalp here.

But a lot of people will say "Good riddance".

Kinda ironic that he leaving is announced the day after Obama fails to go to Berlin, delivers a recorded TV clip that entirely fails to condemn communism as the dictatorship that was a pall over Eastern Europe for decdes. Failed to mention Truman and Kennedy as well, of course - but found room for a self-reference.

re: #142 Cato the Elder

Kilroy: "Oh my God, what's that over there?!"

[Lizards all look where he's pointing, Kilroy switches the wine goblets, chuckles to himself]

Sorry, Kilroy, we all saw the movie...

We've developed a resistance to iocane powder.

re: #149 JohninLondon

Dunn declared quite clearly that Mao was one of the two people she turned to most.

Actually, that's not what she said at all.

And if you're going to toss her quote up here, please be sure to paste the entire sentence, the subject of which was not Mao or who her favorites were.

re: #149 JohninLondon

I think Dunn lost support from the moderate Democratic block...Many, many moderate democrats were critical of the "going after FOX" decision. Donna Brazile on CNN thought it was a very bad move...so did other democrats.

She is leaving early,and although the White would like to spin it differently, she hurt more than she helped, and is now being helped to the door.

Another on under the bus.

re: #152 J.S.

I think Dunn lost support from the moderate Democratic block...Many, many moderate democrats were critical of the "going after FOX" decision. Donna Brazile on CNN thought it was a very bad move...so did other democrats.

To borrow a phrase from our President.

She acted stupidly.

re: #149 JohninLondon

Failed to mention Truman and Kennedy as well, of course - but found room for a self-reference.

Weren't Truman and Kennedy both Democrats? They'd have nothing in common with President Obama.

Fort Hood memorial is underway.

CNN is carrying it live online.

re: #156 Gus 802

ABC has it too.

re: #147 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

And if he had not pulled out guns and started shooting people.

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

re: #142 Cato the Elder

I couldn't resist.

re: #146 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Cool as the other side of the pillow, that.

And as an addendum to my remark : Even though the "conflicts" are not scripted in the play, almost any decent director would see the opportunity to take the show in that direction. Directors have that a sense for things like that.

Squier Knapp Dunn's clients.

It'll be as if she never left the White House.

re: #158 Cato the Elder

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

I have my cape on. Thanks.

ulterior motives abound

:rollseyes:

re: #157 Sharmuta

ABC has it too.

Cool. No direct link but if anyone wants to go to CNN just click on the image with the title "Foot Hood honoring its dead."

re: #161 MandyManners

Squier Knapp Dunn's clients.

It'll be as if she never left the White House.

SEIU - National
SEIU - 1199

Among others.

re: #47 bosforus

It doesn't matter when anybody in the Obama administration leaves, regardless of whether or not it was a temporary position, it will be seen as a "Republican victory" by somebody.

I suppose a question is - what sort of victory would it be, even if it were a "victory". I mean, let's follow the logic (their's):

We succeeded in getting someone to resign who doesn't have a policy position. That person will now be replaced by someone else of the president's choosing who likely will have roughly the same political views. VICTORY!

I just don't get it. You want a victory- get a piece of legislation passed, get a confirmed appointment made. Why is simply getting some random official to resign a victory?

It says to us that the only thing that matters is who is winning and who is losing, not who is governing well. It's pathetic. It's like the morons shouting over the women's caucus on Saturday. They wanted a statement on the record, that's all. Their statement doesn't have any legal value nor any legislative impact so by shouting them down all you succeed in doing is not getting them to state their view.

Even if I dislike your view point why shouldn't you have a right to record it? Frankly, if you genuinely believe their views are wrong then you absolutely SHOULD want it recorded. Then you can hang them on their own statements in the public record.

re: #158 Cato the Elder

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

YOU'RE WELCOME

Kilroy emailed and apologized for the comment - accepted.

re: #147 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I just want the "blame" focused upon the primary cause, Cato.

re: #116 Cato the Elder

Try "being seriously investigated and reprimanded (at the very least) for friendly contact with the enemy during wartime"...does that work for you?

Wasn't taking issue with you. I agree that PC has run amok.

re: #95 Guanxi88

Thanks for the link.

re: #168 Charles

Kilroy emailed and apologized for the comment - accepted.

good for him...

Charles the Merciful!

re: #162 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

re: #167 Ben Hur

YOU'RE WELCOME

Please tell me that's real. Please tell me that's real. Please tell me that's real. Please tell me that's real...

re: #172 Ben Hur

Charles the Merciful (SWT)!

re: #165 Guanxi88

SEIU - National
SEIU - 1199

Among others.

I wonder where American Rights at Work stands on a secret union ballot.

re: #172 Ben Hur

I was thinking magnanimous, but that works too.

re: #176 MandyManners

I wonder where American Rights at Work stands on a secret union ballot.

[Link: www.americanrightsatwork.org...]

Oddly enough, that's one right they don't seem to think belongs at work. Funny.

re: #148 albusteve

another bomb in a Paki market...at least 24 dead

I'm sure you didn't mean it this way but "Paki" is a derogatory racial slur.

re: #165 Guanxi88

SEIU - National
SEIU - 1199

Among others.

Googling is revealing.

re: #168 Charles
Thank you.

re: #179 Cineaste

I'm sure you didn't mean it this way but "Paki" is a derogatory racial slur.

In the US it is not.

re: #179 Cineaste

I'm sure you didn't mean it this way but "Paki" is a derogatory racial slur.

no I just meant Paki for short...I don't care about the other stuff

re: #178 Guanxi88

[Link: www.americanrightsatwork.org...]

Oddly enough, that's one right they don't seem to think belongs at work. Funny.

Everyone has the right to belong to a union, even if they don't want to!

re: #182 Baier

In the US it is not.

I don't think it's used either way in the US. It's almost exclusively used in England & the Commonwealth Countries as a derogatory term. But fortunately this blog is only read in the US... //

re: #183 albusteve

no I just meant Paki for short...I don't care about the other stuff

I assumed that. Just was calling it to your attention.

re: #169 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I just want the "blame" focused upon the primary cause, Cato.

I don't know why you put the word blame in quotes. I have no trouble with attaching blame where it belongs. And clearly Maj. Hasan is culpable.

If, however, people in a position to do something about it knew he was in direct contact with enemies, praised suicide bombers, went off on screeds about hellfire and damnation when he was supposed to be giving clinical talks, and these people did nothing but shrug the whole thing off, they deserve to be investigated up the wazoo.

re: #185 Cineaste

I don't think it's used either way in the US. It's almost exclusively used in England & the Commonwealth Countries as a derogatory term. But fortunately this blog is only read in the US... //

Unless used by Pakis to other Pakis.

Not to be confused with Palis.

Or Palins, for that matter.

re: #188 Ben Hur

Unless used by Pakis to other Pakis.

heh...good one

News from Moody's is that AIG will be able to pay back the government bailout.

AIG.

re: #191 avanti

News from Moody's is that AIG will be able to pay back the government bailout.

AIG.

Serious question: with interest?

re: #188 Ben Hur

Unless used by Pakis to other Pakis.

Granted but would you have written that phrase if it was the n-word? I'm not trying to be the PC police, just trying to keep anyone from latching onto comments here and color the impression of the level of discourse.

re: #151 SixDegrees

Actually, that's not what she said at all.

And if you're going to toss her quote up here, please be sure to paste the entire sentence, the subject of which was not Mao or who her favorites were.

Crap.

Her sentence on 5 June was :

"Two of my favourite poltical philosophers are Mao Tse-Tung and Mother Teresa, not often coupled with each other, but the two people I turn to most".

Exactly what I said she said.

the memorial can't seem to get started...kind of awkward imo

re: #187 Cato the Elder

And the freedom has to be assigned to those in the know to report things like this to the proper folks without being attacked as Islamaphobes.

We're on the same wavelength here.

I used the quote marks around blame because I couldn't figure out a better word... but I know there is a better word than blame.

re: #185 Cineaste

I don't think it's used either way in the US. It's almost exclusively used in England & the Commonwealth Countries as a derogatory term. But fortunately this blog is only read in the US... //

Perhaps we can create a list of obscure derogatory terms used in common wealth nations so as not to offend the rest of the anglosphere.//

re: #193 Cineaste

Granted but would you have written that phrase if it was the n-word? I'm not trying to be the PC police, just trying to keep anyone from latching onto comments here and color the impression of the level of discourse.

what's that mean...is there another, more simple way to say that?

re: #192 Cato the Elder

Serious question: with interest?

Probably the same interest Uncle Sam pays me on my withholding until tax day.

re: #197 Baier

Perhaps we can create a list of obscure derogatory terms used in common wealth nations so as not to offend the rest of the anglosphere.//

Sodding pikers

re: #191 avanti

News from Moody's is that AIG will be able to pay back the government bailout.

AIG.

There a chance that they will simply pay the money back to the Chinese?

re: #200 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Sodding pikers

Bleeding Limeys!!

re: #201 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

There a chance that the Feds will simply pay the money back to the Chinese?

Clearer, I hope.

re: #193 Cineaste

Granted but would you have written that phrase if it was the n-word? I'm not trying to be the PC police, just trying to keep anyone from latching onto comments here and color the impression of the level of discourse.

I'm actually just keeping us all in reality, since my closest friends are British and I've hung out with loads of Pakistanis that call each other Pakis.

It's the context.

It's not the N-word unless you want it to be - which is normally is when some one says "Effen Paki" and not just Paki.

Just speaking from my own experiences, though I am not Pakistani.

I think most here would use it the way we use Pali, etc.

Hell, there was a time when it was just "Stan" for everyone.

re: #200 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Sodding pikers

Bloody gits.

re: #194 JohninLondon

Actually- it's a quote from Lee Atwater:

"The Mao quote is one I picked up from the late Republican strategist Lee Atwater from something I read in the late 1980s, so I hope I don't get my progressive friends mad at me," Dunn told CNN.

re: #192 Cato the Elder

Serious question: with interest?

3% over prime.

re: #202 rwdflynavy

Bleeding Limeys!!

Berk!

re: #208 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Berk!

arses!

re: #205 MandyManners

Bloody gits.

[Link: www.gordonramsayswearsatyou.com...]

re: #206 Sharmuta

Actually- it's a quote from Lee Atwater:

Find it. And the context that Atwater used it.

re: #200 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Sodding pikers

The derogatory term is "pikeys"

re: #212 JohninLondon

The derogatory term is "pikeys"

BOLLOCKS!

The memorial at Ft. Hood is on C-SPAN with no talking heads.

[Link: www.c-span.org...]

re: #204 Ben Hur

I'm actually just keeping us all in reality, since my closest friends are British and I've hung out with loads of Pakistanis that call each other Pakis.

It's the context.

It's not the N-word unless you want it to be - which is normally is when some one says "Effen Paki" and not just Paki.

Just speaking from my own experiences, though I am not Pakistani.

I think most here would use it the way we use Pali, etc.

Hell, there was a time when it was just "Stan" for everyone.

I tend to agree with you, it should all be the context.

But increasingly the term "paki" has become an utterly non-PC word here. Even in easily-uttered statements like "I'm just off to the Paki shop, get some more beer".

If I said that in front of any my kids I'd be reprimanded. But it was normal usage just a few years ao.

re: #214 webevintage

The memorial at Ft. Hood is on C-SPAN with no talking heads.

[Link: www.c-span.org...]

No talking heads? But who will filter whats going on for us to form our opinions?

///

re: #211 Ben Hur

Find it. And the context that Atwater used it.

No one can find the Lee Atwater quote, but ti was long before the internet.

However many agree it is doubtful he said Mao was one of his favorite philosophers.

re: #206 Sharmuta

Actually- it's a quote from Lee Atwater:

Of course! It's Lee Atwater who said it, not Mao. And the context in which atwater used it - organizing a political insurgency campaign. And Ms. Dunn? To encourage US high schoolers to tenacity. Exactly the same thing.

re: #198 albusteve

what's that mean...is there another, more simple way to say that?

sure - we judge many other blogs by the type of comments they have. I just thought I would make a simple note that there are a great many people in the world who find the term used deeply offensive. If you want to use it, feel free, but I figured there was chance that the author of the comment was unaware and I would make the note. Why's everyone find that such a problem?

re: #219 Cineaste

sure - we judge many other blogs by the type of comments they have. I just thought I would make a simple note that there are a great many people in the world who find the term used deeply offensive. If you want to use it, feel free, but I figured there was chance that the author of the comment was unaware and I would make the note. Why's everyone find that such a problem?

You're right and noted.

re: #213 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

BOLLOCKS!

Bollocks back at yer !

"Pikey" is the standard usage.

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

But I'm still writing Pali.

re: #196 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

And the freedom has to be assigned to those in the know to report things like this to the proper folks without being attacked as Islamaphobes.

We're on the same wavelength here.

I used the quote marks around blame because I couldn't figure out a better word... but I know there is a better word than blame.

How about "sin"? Now there's a good old-fashioned word.

re: #194 JohninLondon

Crap.

Her sentence on 5 June was :

"Two of my favourite poltical philosophers are Mao Tse-Tung and Mother Teresa, not often coupled with each other, but the two people I turn to most".

Exactly what I said she said.

Actually, no:

"The third lesson and tip actually comes from two of my favorite political philosophers: Mao Tse-tung and Mother Theresa -- not often coupled with each other, but the two people I turn to most to basically deliver a simple point which is 'you're going to make choices; you're going to challenge; you're going to say why not; you're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before."

re: #221 JohninLondon

Bollocks back at yer !

"Pikey" is the standard usage.

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

Great bolshi yabolkos to thee and thine.

re: #206 Sharmuta

Actually- it's a quote from Lee Atwater:

That's Dunn trying to explain away the remarks she ACTUALLY made on 5 June.

re: #197 Baier

Perhaps we can create a list of obscure derogatory terms used in common wealth nations so as not to offend the rest of the anglosphere.//

listen - you don't have to care. I just thought I would mention it. If you want to keep using the term, be my guest. Also, it's not an obscure term in the commonwealth which includes about 2 billion people.

re: #224 Girth

Actually, no:

"The third lesson and tip actually comes from two of my favorite political philosophers: Mao Tse-tung and Mother Theresa -- not often coupled with each other, but the two people I turn to most to basically deliver a simple point which is 'you're going to make choices; you're going to challenge; you're going to say why not; you're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before."

Who doesn't cite mao's experience in the Chinese civil war when encouraging US high schoolers to persevere.

re: #207 avanti

3% over prime.

Nice. While ordinary consumers with good credit (not near-bankrupts like AIG) are getting slammed with 29.99% interest rates on their credit cards, because the banks need to suck as much blood money as they can before the new regulations go into effect.

America: one law for the rich, another for the rest.

'Twas ever thus.

re: #218 Guanxi88

If you read the article Sharmuta linked to, Dunn said "the two people I turn to most to basically deliver a simple point...", which Beck turned into "She thinks of this man's work all the time?"

nontroversy, imho

re: #229 Cato the Elder

Nice. While ordinary consumers with good credit (not near-bankrupts like AIG) are getting slammed with 29.99% interest rates on their credit cards, because the banks need to suck as much blood money as they can before the new regulations go into effect.

America: one law for the rich, another for the rest.

'Twas ever thus.

3% over the going rate is a very high rate for a big business to pay, just saying.

re: #230 charlz

If you read the article Sharmuta linked to, Dunn said "the two people I turn to most to basically deliver a simple point...", which Beck turned into "She thinks of this man's work all the time?"

nontroversy, imho

Exactly - Mao as an instructive case in perseverance. Who wouldn't couple him with Mother Teresa. i've point out before, her familiarity with the situation that gave rise to the quote shows a familiarity with Chinese hisotry in general, and the mythology of MAO and the CCP, not commonly found in the west, except among historians and/or fans of the Great Helmsman. And really, no one else ever said anything about the need to endure, except for Mao?

re: #224 Girth

Actually, no:

"The third lesson and tip actually comes from two of my favorite political philosophers: Mao Tse-tung and Mother Theresa -- not often coupled with each other, but the two people I turn to most to basically deliver a simple point which is 'you're going to make choices; you're going to challenge; you're going to say why not; you're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before."

It's the "two of my favourite philosophers" ..."that I turn to most" bits that got Dunn attacked. Quite right too.

re: #228 Guanxi88

Who doesn't cite mao's experience in the Chinese civil war when encouraging US high schoolers to persevere.

That's not the point. By truncating the sentence you change its meaning.

re: #233 JohninLondon

It's the "two of my favourite philosophers" ..."that I turn to most" bits that got Dunn attacked. Quite right too.

Rightly so on the "two of my favorite philosophers." Not so much on the other, because the whole sentence says that she turns to most to make a specific point.

re: #231 avanti

3% over the going rate is a very high rate for a big business to pay, just saying.

Which just goes to emphasize my point.

re: #234 Girth

That's not the point. By truncating the sentence you change its meaning.

I didn't truncate the sentence. The distortion of what she said does not change that she invokes Mao to provide an object lesson in the virtue of tenacity. Were she addressing a high school class in beijing circa 1974, no controversy.

re: #234 Girth

That's not the point. By truncating the sentence you change its meaning.

Why Mao? Why him? Is it just a rhetorical Che t-shirt?

re: #235 Girth

Rightly so on the "two of my favorite philosophers." Not so much on the other, because the whole sentence says that she turns to most to make a specific point.

I was stationed in Hong Kong in 1962 - facing the Chinese under Mao. So how come bloody Dunn is able to spout Maoist stuff more than I can ?

Has anyone in all the furore over Dunn's remarks turned up anything harsh she had ever said about communism and the Mao regime ?

And how come Obama didn't say anything critical about the Soviet regime yesterday ? Cringing before Putin again ?

re: #236 Cato the Elder

Which just goes to emphasize my point.

I take it as good news. Had AIG failed, many billions would have been lost. Not only did the loan save them, it's being paid back with above average interest sooner than expected, and AIG's stock is moving back up.
The Bush/Obama bailouts may turn out to have been the right move after all.

re: #237 Guanxi88

I didn't truncate the sentence. The distortion of what she said does not change that she invokes Mao to provide an object lesson in the virtue of tenacity. Were she addressing a high school class in beijing circa 1974, no controversy.

The fact that a quote showing the virtue of tenacity comes from Mao makes it no less true or apt than if it comes from George Washington.

re: #240 avanti

I take it as good news. Had AIG failed, many billions would have been lost. Not only did the loan save them, it's being paid back with above average interest sooner than expected, and AIG's stock is moving back up.
The Bush/Obama bailouts may turn out to have been the right move after all.

I agree with you, but I still think the deal they're getting rhymes with steal.

re: #241 Cato the Elder

The fact that a quote showing the virtue of tenacity comes from Mao makes it no less true or apt than if it comes from George Washington.

This is true an correct, of course, but one hardly point out that familiarity with the sayings of the Great Helmsman is not generally encountered among americans, save those who choose to school themselves in his sayings. Mao said many trivial and true things, and the citation here was one of them. But why choose that instance? i seem to recall that a figure likely to be more familiar to at least some Americans encountered significant obstacles in a place called Valley Forge.

re: #243 Guanxi88

This is true an correct, of course, but one hardly point out that familiarity with the sayings of the Great Helmsman is not generally encountered among americans, save those who choose to school themselves in his sayings. Mao said many trivial and true things, and the citation here was one of them. But why choose that instance? i seem to recall that a figure likely to be more familiar to at least some Americans encountered significant obstacles in a place called Valley Forge.

And I find it entirely unspectacular and indeed praiseworthy if someone chooses to study an enemy rather than merely castigate him. And recognize when the enemy was right and what he said was true.

It was people who failed to read Mein Kampf who gave us WWII.

And having to append "I'm quoting Mao but really don't like the guy" just to prove your American bona fides is merely silly.

I always thought the Fox News thing was stupid, to be honest. Why bother responding to someone like Glenn Beck? His insane fans won't be influenced, and normal people aren't going to fall in love with him anyway.

re: #244 Cato the Elder

And I find it entirely unspectacular and indeed praiseworthy if someone chooses to study an enemy rather than merely castigate him. And recognize when the enemy was right and what he said was true.

It was people who failed to read Mein Kampf who gave us WWII.

And having to append "I'm quoting Mao but really don't like the guy" just to prove your American bona fides is merely silly.

1) I doubt that she views Mao as an enemy;
2) Mao's teachings, such as they were, were a re-hash of the works of other thinkers and writers, but rendered in Chinese. His great insight was into the substitution of the peasantry as the revolutionary proles;
3) I doubt she read Mao in order to understand how the enemy thinks;
4) Feeling compelled to trot out mao when washington will do, in order to prove your leftist bona fieds, is profoundly silly and obnoxious.

re: #242 Cato the Elder

I agree with you, but I still think the deal they're getting rhymes with steal.

The first deal was prime plus 8.5 %, but they shortly found out they would likely never recover with that rate and cut a better deal once they showed they were coming back and the risk was less. To pay it back with interest in a year is a bit of a surprise and is helping push the market to 13 month highs.

re: #238 Guanxi88

Why Mao? Why him? Is it just a rhetorical Che t-shirt?

Possibly. It certainly showed a political tin ear, which isn't such a good trait for a top level political media consultant.

I'm sure Stalin said some interesting things, but I don't seek out his wisdom to help me win arguments of flesh out concepts. I simply am not interested in the quotable quotes of mass murderers.

It is important to put Anita Dunn's Mao quote in context. Here it is in its entirety:

"A lot of you have a great deal of ability. A lot of you work hard. Put them together and that answers the ‘why not' question. There's usually not a good reason and then the third lesson and tip actually comes from two of my favorite political philosophers - Mao Tse Tung and Mother Teresa, not often coupled with each other but the two people that I turn to most to basically deliver a simple point, which is you're going to make choices. You're going to challenge. You're going to say why not. You're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before, but here's the deal... These are your choices. They are no one else's. In 1947, when Mao Tse Tung was being challenged within his own party on his plan to basically take China over, Chiang Kai-Shek and the nationalist Chinese held the cities, they had the army. They had the air force. They had everything on their side, and people said how can you win? How can you do this? How can you do this? Against all the odds against you, and Mao Tse Tung said, you know, you fight your war, and I'll fight mine, and think about that for a second. You don’t have to accept the definition of how to do things and you don’t have to follow other people’s choices and paths. It is about your choices and your paths. You fight your own war. You lay out your own paths. You figure out which is right for you. You don’t let external definition define how good you are internally. You fight your war, you let them fight theirs. Everybody has their own path. And Mother Theresa...”

And remember, she was speaking before high school students. Many of them probably knew nothing about Mao. Their take-away: Mao was a cool philosopher and politician. You know, sort of like Marcus Aurelius.

Dunn's quote is in no way the same as McCain's failed attempt at a one liner. Here it is as posted at LGF:

“It was about the time that I visited here last time there was a lot of people who said that my political career was not going to succeed. In fact in the words of Chairman Mao, “It’s always darkest before it’s totally black.” (garbled) ... the assessment and ...

Mao had no political philosophy past "Power for Mao". He was a mass rapist, torturer, and murderer with no equal in history. He was directly responsible for the deaths of 70+ million of his own countrymen, and would routinely take (rape) any woman in China who caught his eye. Dunn's calling him one of her "favorite political philosophers" and talking about him approvingly is simply disgusting. Mentioning him in the same context as Mother Theresa is vomit inducing.

It should not take Glenn Beck to point this out, and to say that when he did he "smeared [her] as a commie sympathizer" is to miss the point. It is not a left-right thing; it is a right-wrong thing.

Glen Beck can put another notch in his lipstick case.

re: #250 mikebomb

It should not take Glenn Beck to point this out, and to say that when he did he "smeared [her] as a commie sympathizer" is to miss the point. It is not a left-right thing; it is a right-wrong thing.

Yes. I don't much like Beck or Hannity but why is it left to them to bring up Wright and Van Jones and whatever other things the MSM avoids. When the media was literally going through Palin's trash, it was only Stanley Kurtz who was uncovering Annenberg Challenge documents that proved Obama was lying about his relationship with Ayers.

The press didn't investigate the only "administrative" position Obama had. Amazing. He parlayed that experience into his IL State Senate position. It was about the only experience, other than being a community organizer, that he could cite.

Mikebomb said:

"Mao had no political philosophy past 'Power for Mao'"

Sure he did. "Power flows from the barrel of a gun."

re: #161 MandyManners

Exactly. I'm sure glad Obama doesn't play the special interest game. The revolving door syndrome makes me sick.

Just because Glenn Beck is a clown who will do anything for ratings, why does Anita Dunn get a free pass? Sounds like one of those Obama false choices: either Glenn Beck is a pillar of wisom or Anita Dunn is a sweet innocent victim. Why can't we 1) detest Beck [and if he is ever appointed to public office, make him accountable for such statements uttered while in the public employ], and 2) hold Anita Dunn responsible for digging her own grave with this (complete quote) statement:

And then the third lesson and tip actually come from two of my favorite political philosophers, Mao Zedong and Mother Teresa -- not often coupled with each together, but the two people that I turn to most to basically deliver a simple point, which is, you're going to make choices. You're going to challenge. You're going to say, "Why not?" You're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before. But here's the deal: These are your choices. They are no one else's.

--

There are a lot of quotes out there to live by or at least claim to live by. Bartlett's serves nicely. No reason to make a fetish out of Mao. You can leaven the mix with Uncle Joe and Che and Fidel and the golden baldy Vlad the Impaler Ulyanov and a miriad others who inspired the housebroken radicals of the American Left since the 1960s.

And anyone who publicly claims that the severe Mother Theresa, the whipping girl of Christopher Hitchens, is likely to be a daily influence on even a moderate left winger must surely be overestimating the number of suckers born every minute.

Now, I happened to grow up with the little red book on my parents' bookshelf in the evil empire and, of course, once Mao bit the hand that fed him, the book was banned... but, tiny as it was, it remained ensconced among the other tomes of millions of the Soviet intelligentsia. Well, I found my copy one day while ransacking the shelves for some reading fodder at the age of 10 and found it to be full of excellent pithy utterances to be put to use for my upcoming oral presentation at my middle school. Of course, when the day came and I began to spout, a resourceful vice principal immediately cottoned on to the heresy, pulled me off the stage, and later called in my parents for a debriefing. 25 years earlier that would have been sufficient cause for a one-way ticket to the labor camp spa for nonvigilant adults. In the heyday of detente Brezhnevism it merely caused a slap on the wrist.

It gladdens my heart that the little red book is protected by the constitution, another little book in its own right. Nevertheless, if my kid comes home to school quoting Mao, I will make sure that his next essay quotes Mein Kampf and What Is To Be Done?, as well as the Unambomber's Manifesto, and if that doesn't cause a suspension and a visit from the diversity police, I will happily chirp about the wonderful eclecticism of my school district.

The root cause of the problem is the continuing suspension of disbelief by a large swath of badly educated degree holders who have not yet come to grips with the basic fact that Lenin, Mao, Hitler, Stalin, and any number of wannabes are filth and that, while we should certainly study them very attentively, a certain amount of squeamishness in handling their oeuvres is not unhealthy. I am sure that among the millions of vile things uttered by the Ku Klux Klan grandees or other pariahs there must have been at least a few innocuous platitudes that could have been uttered by any public figure - which is no reason to put their trash on the menu - and, lo and behold, if Anita Dunn quoted a KKK Grandmaster, she would have been fired faster than you can say diversity.