Thursday 4th September, 2008



World & National News

Palin delivers

Sarah Palin delivered. An embattled vice presidential candidate, a novice on the national stage, the head of a family suffering its "ups and downs," the first-term Alaska governor rocked the GOP convention with a star-turning performance.

Wielding a stiletto and a smile, Palin belittled Democrat Barack Obama and praised her new boss, John McCain, jolting the crowd of GOP partisans.

"What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull," she said, pausing for a beat and a smirk. "Lipstick."

She left the crowd smiling.

Sarah Strikes Back

Today she is the most talked-about woman in the world. And with good reason.

Sarah Palin's sensational performance at the Republican Party Convention may turn out to be the tipping point of this rollercoaster American election.

Obama fans hoping she would fluff her big night were in for a nasty shock.

This speech has turned the election upside down. It was simply stunning.

Why the media should apologize

On behalf of the media, I would like to say we are sorry.

On behalf of the elite media, I would like to say we are very sorry.

We have asked questions this week that we should never have asked.

We have asked pathetic questions like: Who is Sarah Palin? What is her record? Where does she stand on the issues? And is she is qualified to be a heartbeat away from the presidency?


Detroit Mayor To Resign in Plea Deal

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick agreed to resign today after pleading guilty to two felony counts in a deal with prosecutors, ending six-month-long legal saga that had all but paralyzed the city.

The 38-year-old, two-term mayor agreed to spend 120 days in jail, to pay the city $1 million in restitution, and to give up his pension benefits. He will resign office immediately. City Council President Kenneth Cockrel Jr. will assume the mayor's responsibilities until the city elects a new mayor.

"I lied under oath," Mr. Kilpatrick said in court. His resignation will take effect within no more than 14 days.

Cheney Renews U.S. Pledge to Support Georgia

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney assured Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili of U.S. support to recover from its war with Russia on the heels of President George W. Bush's promised $1 billion aid package.

``America will help Georgia rebuild and regain its position as one of the world's fastest growing economies,'' Cheney told reporters in the capital Tbilisi today. He said the U.S. funds will ``support reconstruction, humanitarian needs, the resettlement of displaced persons and other vital priorities.''


Treasurys Rise

U.S. Treasurys gained modestly Thursday after a round of mostly bond-friendly data and amid downbeat remarks on growth from European Central Bank President Jean Claude Trichet.

The market had gotten off to a slow start, teetering around unchanged early on, then pushing higher after data that continue to point to a weak economy. Namely, weekly jobless claims jumped -- economists were expecting a drop -- and continuing claims pushed to their highest level since November 2003. Meantime, unit labor costs, a key gauge of inflationary pressures, fell by more than expected.

Virginia Governor Calls for Storm Preparation
Governor Declares State of Emergency in Anticipation of Hanna
   
Governor Tim Kaine is directing Virginia officials to prepare for Tropical Storm Hanna.

Kaine on Thursday declared a state of emergency, which authorizes state agencies to identify and preposition resources for quick response wherever they are needed in Virginia.

Kaine says current forecasts predict Hanna will bring tropical storm force winds to Virginia. Those conditions could cause coastal flooding, and the possibility of tornadoes and power outages.


Obama Linked to Top Saudi Adviser

New evidence has emerged that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was closely associated as early as age 25 to a key adviser to a Saudi billionaire who had mentored the founding members of the Black Panthers.

In a videotaped interview this year on New York’s all news cable channel NY1, a prominent African-American businessman and political figure made the curious disclosures about Obama. (See Video Clip Below)

Percy Sutton, the former borough president of Manhattan, off-handedly revealed the unusual circumstances about his first encounter with the young Obama.


U.S. Must Save Mortgage Holders...or Else

Bond fund guru Bill Gross, investment head of Pimco, says waiting for Wall Street to step up and fix the ballooning credit crisis simply won't do the job.

The Feds need to put taxpayer money into directly bailing out homeowners at risk of foreclosure or risk much bigger pain down the road.


Palin Is Ready to Lead

Frank J. Gaffney Jr., president of a respected Washington think tank, contends that Sen. John McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, is not only qualified to step into the president’s shoes but also has a portfolio “likely to be substantially better than that of either Barack Obama or Joe Biden.”

“Governor Palin’s personal story and qualities that are clearly resonating with millions of Americans across the political spectrum — her intelligence, scrappiness, integrity, common sense and deep-seated faith — when combined with her real-world experience in Alaska, suggest that she will prove to be better equipped than her rivals to deal with the dynamic and increasingly ominous national security challenges of our times,” says Gaffney, who leads the Center for Security Policy and is a columnist for The Washington Times.


An Independent Joe

Genuine independence is a rare virtue in politics, and Joe Lieberman knew what he was risking by speaking for John McCain at the Republican convention on Tuesday. Majority Leader Harry Reid said he was "very disappointed," which means look out. A Barack Obama aide, Robert Gibbs, told MSNBC, "I thought it was just too much to stomach . . . and then get up there in front up the American people and just -- no offense, just lie."

We don't recall any untruths, but the idea that the Connecticut Senator is some kind of Brutus is itself false. For all intents and purposes, Democrats are the fellows who excommunicated Mr. Lieberman in 2006 -- and for the sole reason that as a matter of policy and conscience he refused to recant on Iraq. The antiwar left was in full rage at the time, and Greenwich millionaire Ned Lamont chose to challenge Mr. Lieberman after the Senator dared to write an op-ed in this newspaper urging that the U.S. fight to victory.

She Shoots, She Scores
Is there still an enthusiasm gap?

Twenty years after Ronald Reagan left office, Republicans who have long missed him may have found a future Margaret Thatcher. If John McCain wins, conservatives may find one of the most enduring accomplishments of his term will have been what he did before it started: helping to fill the Republican Party's future talent bench with such a fresh and compelling figure.

Sarah Palin is a conviction politician, a naturally compelling speaker and someone who can relate to her audience on very human terms. America has just learned why Mrs. Palin enjoys the highest approval ratings of any governor in America.

Biden Was Wrong On the Cold War

The choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has electrified many conservatives and strengthened John McCain's claim that his administration would be far more reform-minded than Barack Obama's. At the same time, it has triggered accusations that Gov. Palin is far too inexperienced to be vice president, and has little knowledge of national security issues.

Mrs. Palin's lack of mastery of national security issues is often contrasted with Mr. Obama's vice presidential pick, Joseph Biden Jr. Mr. Biden has served in the Senate since 1973, is currently chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and is often described as a "statesman."


Metcalf Still on Amazon Shorts 'Best Seller List'

Back in January I had my third book posted to Amazon Shorts.  'Will in Acquinistere' it is a novel about a young boy with cerebral palsey who goes on a Tolkein like adventure to a far away place to save the world.

I was delighted to learn the story made it onto Amazon's 'Best Seller' list on Amazon Shorts. They update it every hour so I could be in #2 or #14 position depending on when you check.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/334884011

I encourage you to please check out the story which I feel is much more than just a 'childrens book'. It is serialized into five downloads and is very inexpensive.  Please sample at least the first part and let me know what you think.
Will in Acquinistere - Part 1


Form and Substance
    By Geoff Metcalf
“Important principles may, and must, be inflexible.”
--Abraham Lincoln

The selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as the GOP Vice Presidential nominee is brilliant. Strategically and tactically, she is the perfect compliment to Senator John McCain, and “perfect storm” for the perpetually whiny Democrats. 

“As a Democrat, I am reeling,” said Camille Paglia, the erstwhile and current cultural critic. “That was the best political speech I have ever seen delivered by an American woman politician. Palin is as tough as nails.”

Democrats will need a chain saw to cut through the hypocrisy this year.

So now we have the party tickets for the ’08 Presidential Wannabes.  Buckle up!

Perception versus reality is the challenge in most political theater.  Obama has offered form over substance as an art form he has mastered. He is a highly skilled orator, expert at sparking warm and fuzzy feelings. However, demonstrated performance remains (for him) an elusive promise…if or when he is anointed.

In the wake of the usual Cecil de Milleish choreography of the DNC extravaganza in Denver, the GOP has thrown a hard curveball into the process.  The announcement that the GOP Vice Presidential pick is Governor Palin has sent shockwaves through the ranks of the chattering class elite (and the DNC).

Governor Palin is way more than just a pretty face or just a political maverick. She is the real deal! Unlike her running mate or their opponents, Palin is the personification of both substance and principles…a for real “doer of deeds”. She has earned a reputation as a tax-cutter and corruption buster and (get this) has demonstrated “…it’s not a question of WHO is right or wrong (partisanship), but WHAT is right or wrong (principles) that counts.”  HOOAH!

Democrat surrogates are sniping at her lack of experience (despite Barack’s painfully thin resume). They are dissing her ability to be Commander in Chief (ignoring her Command of the Alaska National Guard for two years). Candidly, Democrats are recycling most of the routine GOP criticisms of Obama. The obvious difference is that Palin is being offered as a complement to the GOP presidential candidate, whereas Obama is the Democrats candidate for President.

If it is possible to set aside partisan rancor for a brief moment and clinically analyze the Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/and Threats of all the candidates, some interesting parallels develop.
1.    GOP:
a.    McCain brings heavy Senate Experience, Military Experience, Maturity, partisan maverick, and yeah, that POW credential that seems to annoy those who don’t have those scars.
b.    Palin is skinny with experience on the national scene; however, she is a bona fide strong partisan maverick, VERY conservative principles, doer of deeds who gets stuff done.
c.    Neither McCain nor Palin are partisan hacks. Both have been decried as RINOs. Both have significant accomplishments and compelling personal stories.
2.    Dems:
a.    Obama lacks experience in Senate, has no executive experience, VERY liberal policies, zero exposure to military. He may be a gifted speaker, but is way thin on demonstrated performance.
b.    Biden has heavy senate experience, maturity, partisan sycophant with a propensity for major gaffs. Oddly, he personifies the stereotype of the kind of “change” Obama rails against.

The Ketchikan Daily News recently observed, “Voters will be deciding in the general election whether they prefer an experienced president and less experienced vice president, or what the Democrats offer: a rising star for president and seasoned vice president. It won’t be far from anyone’s mind, either, that McCain is the oldest presidential candidate ever. … There are chinks in her armor. But she has a tendency to just move past them and continue to fight for what she believes in. Palin is energetic.”
Those Republicans who have struggled with “holding their nose and voting for the lesser of available evils” have to be jazzed at the introduction of a for real conservative, who not only talks the talk, but has routinely walked the walk, on matters both political and personal.

Principles matter. Many of my long time readers remain angry I could or would suggest McCain as the solution to Obama mania. I have tried (unsuccessfully) to explain that the republic is in distress because of liberal incrementalism which has consistently eroded our Constitutional gifts. Before we can restore the republic we have to slow and then attrite the liberal gains that challenge us.

Obama is anathema. Obama/Biden is an abomination. The Democrats offer a team of two rabid liberals. The Republicans offer a team of two principled conservatives of varying intensity.

Herman Melville once wrote, “The grand principles of virtue and honor, however they may be distorted by arbitrary codes, are the same the world over: and where these principles are concerned, the right or wrong of any action appears the same to the uncultivated as to the enlightened mind.”