What Bush Wrought

Twenty years ago I had the good fortune to be living in Germany.

You may recall that a wall in the city of Berlin collapsed late in 1989. Although I visited the wall earlier that summer, I had a notion it wouldn't be standing much longer. The wall separated the free people of the west from the oppressed people of the east.

About a quarter century before, President John Kennedy visited the divided city and claimed solidarity with the citizens of Berlin. A couple of decades later, President Ronald Reagan demanded that the Communist party secretary of the Soviet Union (rather than the East German leadership) to tear down the wall.

Both were admirable sentiments; I'm not sure they were persuasive.

But like the walls of Jericho, it came a tumblin' down.

It wasn't the biggest surprise when the wall ultimately fell. By 1989, the Iron Curtain was rusting and East Europeans were scurrying through the cracks. After years, nay decades, of a second class existence -- brought on by an accident of geography -- the populace was voting on foot to greener pastures in the West. After a while you realize that you can only tolerate so much.

In Iran, there are protesters -- perhaps tens of thousands of them -- defying death threats. Originally it was to denounce a blatantly rigged election and now it's morphed into something more -- perhaps an existential threat to the theocrats that have ruled that nation for the last thirty years.

Some have claimed that President Barrack Obama's recent speech in Cairo have encouraged the protesters.

Get real.

The President's speech may be historic, but it certainly wasn't memorable. For as hyped an orator as he is -- do you recall the takeaway quote? Neither do I.

Over the past several years the Iranians have seen their neighbors -- the Afghans and the Iraqis -- vote. Were those elections perfect? Hardly. But they were fair enough to lead some in Iran to believe that they should have the same opportunity. (And you have to believe that the Iranians think themselves as superior to their neighbors.)

Even in an election where the candidates were approved by the mullahs (who hold the real power).

So you have a situation where the results of a sham election are so obviously rigged (why it would take the Administration time to figure that out is beyond me) the masses have simply had enough.

Now this protests have become something that nobody -- except those who believe in freedom -- could have expected. Or, perhaps the guy who made free elections possible in Afghanistan and Iraq.

George W. Bush.

And he wasn't known for his speeches. Go figure.

Intel Failure?

Perhaps.

Given the cautious approach that Team Obama is taking to the events unfolding in Iran, one can't help but wonder if they have been blindsided.

For an election that was held (and called) on a Saturday, it was definitely disappointing to hear the Vice President say, in a Sunday morning interview, that they (the administration) were going to review what occurred.

(Unfortunately the interview wasn't all that it was cracked up to be -- Biden invited David Gregory over to his house afterwards. I could never imagine Russert and Cheney yukking it up after a MTP episode. )

Biden's tepid response suggests that our layers of intelligence didn't list that the election would be stolen for Mahmoud Amhadinejad and tens of thousands would protest as a probability.

There is, of course, the political calculus. President Obama, doesn't want to be in a position where his support would diminish the standing of the protesters, nor does he want to be seen as losing a chance to nudge an internal reformation of the Iranian regime. There's a reason why he voted "present" so often as a state senator.

In any event, it seems that he had to start at square one or somewhere close to it.

As to the way forward -- it seems that they believe that flexibility is the key to indecision.

Ruminations

REHAB: Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) is being treated -- once-again -- for an undisclosed ailment. The Congressman, the son of the ailing Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts, has been treated before for depression, alcoholism, and drug addiction. In a statement, Kennedy noted, "...he will do whatever it takes to preserve his health." Everything that is but resign his seat.



BUS TOSS: It seems that David Letterman was deemed expendable by the folks over at the National Organization of Women. (After all, Letterman is a cantankerous over the hill talk show host.) Too bad they lost their cred when they failed to support Jones, Broderick, and Wiley ten years ago when NOW had a shred of credibility.



DARE NOT SPEAK ITS NAME: Here's how a joke about statuatory rape is now being described: "... and the now oft-repeated joke about Palin’s daughter and Alex Rodriguez..." Given that description, how harmful could it be?



EMPATHY: If Mr. & Mrs. Obama want to dine in the Big Apple and in the City of Lights, go ahead. But in times like these, doesn't it strike one as being a bit out of touch?



INVITES: So much for any plan to invite both Rahm Emanuel and Jeremiah Wright to the same party. Seems the latter has a problem with the former's beliefs. A team of rivals indeed.



YOUR NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER AT WORK: Regular readers of this blog saw this happening from Day One.



DESPAIR & STATUS QUO: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wins in Iran. If this had been a real election than a simple circus, there'd be something to talk about.

What Biden Is Really Saying...

I'm looking forward to this Sunday's Meet the Press with Joe Biden as the guest.

I expect that David Gregory will be as easy on the Vice President as Lesley Stahl was a few weeks back. If Joe errs, it won't be Gregory's fault. After all he probably enjoys the DC cocktail circuit as much as anyone.

But I will be disappointed if the Veep doesn't say something stupid which will probably be the story of the day on Sunday.

Unfortunately for Joe, there is now the expectation that he will say something silly. His track record demonstrates a proclivity to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Or simply a politically tone-deaf notion. Go here and here and here to check out a few.

Despite the gaffes, Biden is not a stupid man. He's been re-elected a few times to represent the folks of Delaware in the Senate.

By my lights, he's not being served well by his staff. It is a bit of a surprise since his staff was considered to consist of political heavyweights. If so, these heavyweights don't know the first rule of staff work -- don't make the boss look bad. (Somebody should have prepped the Veep on the nature of the new Hudson River Tunnel.)

Of course, the fact that Biden has kept these under-performing staffers says plenty about Joe.

And it will say a lot about Obama if he keeps Biden on the ticket in 2012.

Ruminations

SCI-FI: I gave it a couple of viewings but like most of America, I realized that Life wasn't worth watching. They lost me when the hot chick started sleeping with her shmoe of a boss. Another NBC success story.

A GREAT JOB IF YOU CAN GET IT: Seems our National Security Advisor has the time to bike home for lunch. I would guess that all told it probably takes three hours out of his day. Good thing he's unimportant, otherwise he'd be missed.

EXILED: At first, I thought Joe Biden, given his latest goof, was sent to Siberia. He's actually in Serbia.

CAFE CHIP: Something tells me that President Obama's move to increase vehicle fuel mileage is nothing more than a bargaining chip to be used sometime down the road.

RUNNING: I know of some registered voters in New York City getting three to four mailings from the Bloomberg campaign. It's safe to say, he's not taking chances.

SNOWED: Marc Ambinder is keeping an eye on the meme that Obama is easily cowed by his generals. Perhaps, but Bush was swayed by his defeatist brass -- Pace, Casey, and Abizaid. Success in Iraq came when he finally got rid of two and kicked the other upstairs.

IMPOTENCE: As the Senate Majority leader, things can't get any worse for Senator Reid given his erroneous reports, his poor polling numbers, and a President who disses his state's leading source of revenue.

Ruminations

SCRAMBLING: As soon as B of A got word that they needed more capital, they called me trying to push a $12.99/month credit history security plan. They're not going to make up their shortfall with that pathetic effort.

HELPFUL: Murray Chass excoriates Selena Roberts' over-hyped tome on Alex Rodriguez. Nothing like a hack attack to develop a little sympathy for the guy. Now if he can help the Yanks end their losing skid...

ACOUSTICS: I was flipping between the Mets and Yankees telecasts last night. Both games were played at their respective new stadiums. It could have been the sound quality used by the production teams but things seemed to be awfully quiet in the Bronx. It was far nosier in Queens. Then again it could have been a reflection of what was seen on the field.

FORGOTTEN: NBC is becoming known as an acronym for Nothing But Cheap. They plan to wheel out a few Saturday Night Live specials in primetime this fall. Last year there was a Presidential election. This year, their pining their hopes on what? BTW, can anyone name three members of this year cast? I thought so.

BOTTOMLESS: I thought Barack would be different. (Not better but at least different.) However, even he's resorting to Clintonian sleight of hand when it comes to ostensible budget cuts. No Democrat and sadly no Republican can turn away increased spending.

OVERDUE: It's been six days since Bill Carter of the New York Times propped up Rachel Maddow. Maybe he's on vacation.

Ruminations

ANOTHER DISTRACTION: Hillary Clinton, who is apparently showing the strains of her new job (she's got Samsonites under her eyes), noted that the Taliban is now a "mortal threat" to Pakistan. Anyone who has read Steve Coll's Ghost Wars would be struck by the irony of Pakistan's creation turning against it.

ROCK, NOT ROCK STAR: Rachel Maddow, GE's answer to Ambien, is slowly sinking into oblivion with what remains of her minuscule audience. Rush Limbaugh, if memory serves, thought Maddow would be a perfect fit with MSNBC though -- as she didn't have much of a track record in garnering an audience in radio either.

UNWATCHABLES: I gave ABC's The Unsusuals a viewing last night. I enjoyed it more when it was called NYPD Blue.

CHERRY PICKING: I figured, well, all it took was a measly $39 to get everyone thinking that happy days are here again. Then I realized that AP prominently displayed the good news, rather than the less than positive news in their story about how Obama has revitalized the American mood. Of greater interest, is how they parse the quote from a McCain supporter to fit the narrative.

NOT THAT PUBLIC SERVICE: It's been three months or so since Caroline Kennedy got the thumbs down from Governor Paterson to be Hillary Clinton's replacement. (That move certainly didn't help him with NY's chattering class but that's another story.) Apparently, her need to serve the public is satisfied by reading a message on behalf of Mayor Bloomberg to get other folks to volunteer. Not quite as challenging as a Senate gig. Anyway, as long as Chuck Schumer (D - Wall Street) has any juice, Kennedy will be sitting on the sidelines in 2010.

Ruminations

THANKS FOR THE VIDEO THOUGH: President Obama's vaunted video greetings to the Iranians to mark their "Nowruz" holiday was seen for what it was -- a sign of weakness. Now the Iranians have tossed American journalist, Roxana Saberi, in jail for 8 years alleging that she was a spy. Teheran sees a vulnerability and is now trying to exploit it. I'd be surprised if the back channels weren't being worked to determine a means of releasing Ms. Saberi. Perhaps thawing a frozen bank account or releasing a senior Qods Force operator who was captured last December in Iraq? Watch for a decent interval between the two.

MS'ING IN ACTION: You have to like the way Bill O'Reilly criticizes the left leaning MSNBC. He goes after NBC and their corporate masters GE instead. Obviously, why give Olberman, Maddow, and Matthews a plug on his show? Given the way that Jeff Immelt has run GE into the ground, he's a bigger and easier target instead.

CUT TO THE CHASE: I understand that ESPN and TNT have paid for a lengthy NBA playoffs -- they need something to put on the air other than poker tournaments and Law & Order repeats. However, it seems that everyone is expecting the finals to be between the Lakers and the Cavaliers. So let's can all these unnecessary and meaningless games and have these guys play it out and end the basketball season in early May rather than in late June.

PERCEPTION: I'm not a DHS junkie, but the only times I notice DHS Secretary Napolitano on the news is when she is explaining what a "man-made" disaster is and how it could be possible that disaffected vets may want to join right wing militias. Our adversaries are taking note as well.

PENNIES: James Warren a couple of weeks back on the McLaughlin Group observed that that the $200 million allotted by the federal government for teacher merit pay, was, to use his term, "pennies." I eagerly await to hear his assessment of Obama's $100 million budget cut.

US OUT OF MEXICO: Stanley Crouch a week or so ago, spent a whole column denouncing gun violence. Hard to argue with that. However, to add a sense of urgency to his need for greater gun control, he added this whopper:

We can add in the documented fact that weapons bought at unmonitored gun fairs are arming Mexican drug dealers who will end up fighting American troops very soon.

The "fact" may be documented but it's not true. Moreover, it seems that Mr. Crouch has an inside line to the Pentagon that is facilitated by wearing a specially designed tin hat. Perhaps, Mr. Crouch is unaware of this documented fact.

Ruminations

BANNED IN BOSTON: Boston is the first NBC affiliate to balk at airing the prime time Jay Leno program. Jay grew up in nearby (well as the crow flies) Andover -- not a big greeting for a local boy done well. NBC has threatened the affiliate -- which thinks it can get better numbers by airing a newscast -- by dropping them from NBC. Given the dearth of hit network programming, it seems like a bluff. This could be the first of many defections.

HUFF, THE TRAGIC EDITOR: Richard Huff, the TV & radio editor for the NYDN, reported on the dismissal of a popular local sportscaster and the cancellation of "The Guiding Light" a long running soap opera. You know how much money was saved by these acts? Well, if Richard Huff knows, he's not telling. Or, he's incompetent. Your pick.

HERE AND THERE: As I alluded in January, Obama is acting tough at home (e.g., canning the chief of GM). But he's sweetness and light overseas (e.g. bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia at the G20 summit). If there's a method to the madness, I can't fathom it.

EYE OF THE STORM: One doesn't normally consider themselves recovered from an illness until after a day or two of normal operations. You don't think yourself healed because you're able to sit up in your sick bed. That's my analogy for the current uptick in the stock market. It's a good sign but it doesn't mean you'll be running any time soon.

BATTER UP: Obviously the reception was poor when George Steinbrenner and Jeff Wilpon, the chiefs of the Yankees and Mets respectively, gazed into their crystal balls. Despite having contending ball teams, I don't expect boffo box office with the prices that they will be charging to see grown men play, well, a game. in their posh new facilities. Had they built the new stadiums in the late 1990s, well that's a different story.

NOW THEY NOTICE: Bravo to the NYDN for exposing the mockery that is called the New York State legislature. It's essentially a three-man circus -- the governor, the Assembly leader, and the Senate leader. Every other elected official is an extra -- or in some cases -- a prop. However, this isn't news -- this set up has been the governing MO for decades. However, the NYDN is still upset that the governor didn't select sweet Caroline Kennedy as the senator -- so now it's news. (Alas, Kirsten Gillibrand doesn't sell papers.)

THE SHIP BE SINKING: Did the NYT spike a story that would connect ACORN and the Obama campaign? It doesn't look good. Neither does the mindset of their executive editor for that matter.

The Patsy

About three-fourths through The Maltese Falcon, Humphrey Bogart's Sam Spade and Sydney Greenstreet's Kasper Gutman decide to join forces although each man was from different sides of the law. In fact, Spade suggests that Gutman's accomplice, Elisha Cook's Wilmer Cook take the rap on murdering Spade's partner to seal the deal -- to be the patsy. Gutman relents much to the displeasure of Cook. (Check the movie out to see how it ends.)

Such is the case with the U.S. Treasury. President Obama and Larry Summers, his director of the National Economic Council, are calling the shots on revitalizing (or destroying) the economy. Timmy Geithner is the patsy. They figured he probably had enough smarts and experience to get confirmed but enough weaknesses (to include an issue about not paying his taxes) to make him ineffective. (I don't know if Geithner saw it coming.)

So while O & S pump up big government with ever bigger steroids, er, spending, it's Geithner who is being set up for failure. He's the public face of the Administration on the economy and he's the one that has to play "stump the chump" with Congress, the media, and our allies. Obama isn't resigning and Summers isn't going anywhere -- so when a head has to roll -- it will be Geithner's.

Summers, who was a Treasury Secretary, doesn't want nor need too much attention in his current office. (I think his dull demeanor is an act when he hits the Sunday morning news programs.) As the economy continues to plunge south and as even more red ink will be spilled, it will be Geithner, not Summers, who will be called on to pay.

However, Timmy isn't going anywhere. As seen by the Administration's failure to fill the dozen and a half spots that require Senate ratification, it won't be easy getting another patsy. If Geithner couldn't bring himself to step down after it was made known that he studiously avoided paying taxes, it's not likely that he will resign willingly. He will have to be fired. So yesterday's screw up -- about being "open" to a worldwide currency other than the dollar -- will have little impact on Geithner's job security.

It didn't end well for Wilmer Cook in the movie. I'm sure it will be just as bad for Timmy (sans the bloodshed, of course).

Ruminations

Call it the Snyder Curse, but ever since Dan Snyder assumed control of the Washington Redskins, they haven't been, well, contenders. They overpaid for Albert Haynesworth to fix their weak defensive line. Now it appears that Mr. Haynesworth may spend some time in the clink.


I don't know why MSNBC treats Keith Olberman as the 800 pound gorilla -- among the 25-54 demographic, he's third among the news cable shows at 8 PM EDST and dead last when he's repeated at 10 PM EDST. Not exactly a barn-burner. But I figure he's the reason why there isn't a new show with a new host at 10 PM -- he doesn't want the competition within (MS)NBC.


Sooner or later, Obama -- if he's serious about entitlement reform or opts to finally make a tough decision -- he's going to have to buck his party. However, as he folds repeatedly like a lawn chair to get their support for "gimmes" such as a budget and a stimulus -- he's setting himself up for failure. Come this fall, Congress will be looking at 2010 -- not what Obama thinks is best. He's burning valuable political capital now.


For reasons beyond my meager ability to understand, it seems that education, energy, and health care are woven into the current economic crisis. Well, what about the lack of a college football playoff? I can imagine President Obama, saying the following: "Unless we get a definitive national college football champion, the current financial crisis will persist. That's why, today, I have established a federal commission..."


Nobody wants to jump on a sinking ship, but you'd think that getting 18 or so financial whizzes to join the Treasury Department wouldn't be this difficult. My gut tells me that nobody wants to work for Timmy Geithner.


A New York radio station changed formats this week from "mainstream" rock to Top 40. I was traumatized when this happened when I was a teenager. Nowadays, does anyone listen to the local radio?

Your National Security Advisor at Work

Apparently, the President has decided to focus (when not in pseudo-campaign mode) on domestic issues. As a result, he -- not unlike President Clinton -- has let the "experts" handle foreign policy.

For starters, it looks like the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) selected Chas Freeman to be the chief of the National Intelligence Council (NIC). Mr. Freeman has since declined the job.

Nonetheless, the NIC produces the authoritative National Intelligence Estimates which guides U.S. foreign policy. It seemed that Mr. Freeman had some explaining to do with regard to his "outlier" views on key issues. No doubt, Admiral (Ret'd.) Blair will take some well-deserved grief for the selection.

However, shouldn't the national security advisor been part of the selection process? If he was ignored (or not part of the input) doesn't it suggest that his views are, well, unimportant? If he did have input, what does it say about his judgment? From my soda-straw perspective, it looks like lose-lose.

Moreover, who put the idea in the President's head about "moderate" Taliban? After seven plus years, those Taliban who wanted to come over -- probably have. Those who joined after their ejection into the mountainous hinterlands are likely to be hard core. (All bets are off should Obama go to the mountains -- with his teleprompter -- and talk to the Taliban.)

Then (I can go on but three examples should suffice) what was the anticipated end state when dealing with the Russians regarding Iran? The actual result had us looking as if we let the Poles and the Czechs twist in the wind with no Russian change in policy. Moreover, it has downgraded the critical missile defense system to a bargaining chip. Who was dumb enough to think that the Russians were going to take a bite on that offer?

General (Ret'd.) James Jones hasn't been getting much press as the president's national security advisor. However, given these recent debacles , maybe he should.

Timmy's Travails

Six weeks into the administration -- and Timmy Geithner is still flying solo at the Treasury Department. The Department has 17 positions that require Senate confirmation. So far, no names have been ponied up.

Apparently, it's not for a want of trying. According to the AP, a prospective deputy decided to take a pass when offered the job.

However, the bright spot (everything is relative these days) is the fact that he has a 50-member advisory board.

When you have 50 guys and gals giving you advice -- you're not getting smarter -- you're getting confused. (I'd be curious to know how many of them are erstwhile lobbyists.)

One blogger is perplexed.

He needn't be.

The key to understanding is that this administration, with respect to domestic affairs, prefers to to micro-manage. (Hillary got her secretaryship to take her out of the 2012 race and even Team Obama knew their limitations when it came to defense.)

Geithner, eager to have his signature on the currency and willing to embarass himself about his tax-dodging, took the job. It seems that subordinate position holders aren't willing to accept a title without commensurate authority.

Proximity is power. Larry Summers is decamped somewhere in the White House. He has the President's ear. He develops the policies -- for better or worse -- and the folks over at Treasury are expected to carry it out. Who -- with 15-20 years experience in financial matters -- wants to do the job a glorified college intern? After six weeks the answer is clear -- nobody.

Treasury will not be the only department to have this problem. The czars and czarinas at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will be the power brokers. They won't be simply "coordinating." They will be barking out orders that begin with, "The President wants..."

If that's not a recipe for disaster, then it should be in the cookbook.

Expect a rounding up of the usual suspects -- mostly hacks -- to fill in the Treasury Department. Based on the recent performance of the stock market, it's not as if the economy was an administration priority anyway.

Gyrating

About ten years all one needed was a computer, a modem, an online trading account, and a business magazine (or a copy of The Wall Street Journal) and one was in business as a day trader.

I had a friend who did it -- more of a hobby than anything else. On a good day, he would make up to $40. That's right, forty bucks.

I always thought it was too much work for what seemed to be an iffy ROI at best.

Fortunately, our President has figured the same thing out. As he boldly proclaimed yesterday:

"What I am looking for is not the day-to-day gyrations of the stock market ... but the long-term...''

Most folks though, are investors. They are in for the long haul -- whether it's for retirement, a rainy day, or their children's education. They aren't looking at the daily "gyrations." But it's only the obstinate or foolish who can't see the market sinking.

Perhaps it was the tax-dodger, who told Obama, in Cheney-esque fashion, that the stimulus, the budget, and the various bailouts will have them them greeted as liberators on Wall Street.

Then again, maybe not.

Obama is not a stupid man. If he was concerned about the investor-class he would do something about it. His advice to buy more stocks rings false when he continues to burden business with additional "feel-good" regulations; a union-first mentality; and one big tax bill.

Maybe it's time to start thinking that a $40 score is worth it.

Ruminations

For a guy who wants to get out of the cocoon, I wonder if Obama got the following message on his BlackBerry: "Gr8 idea about that housing bailout!"

As for the housing bailout, Team Obama may have crossed a threshold. When times are tough, perhaps it can be assumed that people will dig a bit deep to help out. More taxes will mean more people working? Well, ok. More taxes to help a guy who bought too much house for too little money? Now, you're playing me for a sucker.

Good to see David Brooks paying attention during his weekly chat with Mark Shields. The latter was talking about all the problems that confront the President, to include the formation of a right-wing government in Israel. Brooks countered that that development wasn't exactly bad. (Well perhaps it is for BHO.)

Conan O'Brien has left New York. Somehow, I think they'll manage.

Timmy Geithner didn't have a bad week. It may not last though -- there's always next week.

I hear that a share of the New York Times Company is going for less than $4 a share. So I guess publishing a liberal-infused broadsheet isn't quite a successful business model.

George Pataki for Senate? New York could do worse (i.e., Carolyn Maloney) I hear that Pataki has the White House in his sights, though.

When I was in the Army, there was a torrent of activity before "block leave" would start. Then everyone was gone for two weeks. Seems Congress is the same way. They pass a dreadful spending bill and take off. Why?

For a Speaker, Nancy Pelosi sure lacks that vision thing. From writing a book, that nobody would read to traveling all the way to Rome to get rebuked by the Pope.

Better get your steroids now. With baseball season around the corner, the demand, and the price is likely to go up.

Violent Violets

Yesterday, I had business down at Greenwich Village. I did have time to take a look at the student protest at New York University.

The local CBS affiliate had a camera crew on hand. I was surprised that there wasn't more. A protest -- in this case -- students (allegedly) have barricaded themselves in a cafeteria in the student union. The visuals are great -- signs, cops, onlookers -- what more could you ask?

Yet, it had a ho-hum quality to it.

For starters, it seemed that there were more cops than onlookers. And most of New York's finest -- who could be out preventing crime -- looked bored. They were in bunches talking amongst themselves. Everyone on the scene knew one thing -- sooner or later the protestors would have to come out. Unless they're wearing a uniform, today's teenagers are unbelievably soft.

So why the protest? The usual boilerplate about a greater role in the university's operations, greater transparency (gee that word is getting a workout of late) with the budget and of course, solidarity with the Gazans.

As to the a greater role in the school's business, I thought that was the student government's responsibility. Of course, the sad truth of the matter is that student government is nothing more than a resume padder for law school wannabes and future politicos.

As for the finances, well, it's only a big tuition bill, if you pay it. Last time I checked, NYU wasn't the only college in New York City. You can always hop on a West Side train and head uptown to Columbia. (Barack Obama, with no visibile means of support, was able to pay his way there for a couple of years.)

Curiously, in the referenced news article, some students had no idea that NYU was so expensive. Obviously, these folks are so lacking in awareness, that perhaps they should start thinking about residing in an assistance living facility upon graduation. The real world will eat them alive.

As for supporting the Gazans, that's going to be a tough sell at a school that was always known as "NYJew". I think that demand is reminiscent of Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber character in Die Hard when he made a list of demands. It was made to distract the police from his real intent and was based on something he had read in Time magazine. I think the students read something on line and figured, what the heck, let's throw this into the soup as well. In business, it's known as the "throwaway demand."

Already one deadline has come and gone. No doubt the intent was to prevent NYU from paying overtime.

The likely scenario will have the protestors giving up yet claiming victory. A few days later they will be expelled or suspended.

Life will go on and the CBS camera crew will be elsewhere.

UPDATE: After 40 hours, it's over. However, rather than suspensions or expulsions, perhaps these jokers should take an expository writing course.

More Troops, Then What?

It appears that the Obama Administration will deploy up to 17,000 additional Soldiers and Marines into Afghanistan (up from a current total of 30,000).

If we continue to fight the war that we've been fighting, then an additional 17,000 troops will not solve the issue.

During the insurgency against the former Soviet Union, the modus operandi of the resistance was to refit during the winter in Pakistan. There would be the sporadic attack to keep the Soviets on their toes, but most of the violence occurred in the late spring, summer, and early autumn. It can get mighty cold in those mountains. We see the same cycle of violence twenty years later.

Since the war started, more than seven years ago, the Taliban and their cohorts have learned a thing or two. For starters, they know that when they mass their forces, they will lose. So, we're unlikely to have a set-piece battle with them anytime soon. Rather, they have resorted to terrorism -- IEDs and suicide attacks -- to instill fear in the populace. More, importantly they are demonstrating the impotence of the regime in Kabul and their NATO protectors. (It doesn't help much when the U.S., Canada, and the United States is doing most, if not all, of the heavy lifting of actually fighting the Taliban.) It can be said that the Taliban's goal is to provoke the people into preferring the dark days of the Taliban rather than the uncertainty of today.

One thing hasn't changed -- the use of Pakistan as a relative sanctuary.

We've been fighting a war of opportunity ever since 2001. During my hitch there, we would set up elaborate plans based on sketchy intelligence. Only to be stood up by the enemy. Our brigade's biggest firefight was when we came across a an insurgent group by surprise. We have conceded the initiative to the enemy. More importantly, coming from my limited perspective, they seemingly copped on to our tactics, techniques, and procedures, and have developed ways to counter them.

So, if we are to send an additional 17K into theater (and don't even get me started on our ever-tightening supply line) they will have do something other than execute the same defensive type war that we've been doing since 2002. If there is a new strategy, it's a top secret.

More troubling, however, is this influx of troops demonstrates an already identifiable trait in President Obama -- to do something. The economy is in a mess -- legislate a dubious stimulus bill. The world's lefties want us to close Gitmo -- let's close it down and oh, by the way, come up with a plan to house those detainees elsewhere. Violence spiraling out of control in Afghanistan -- send a brigade or two. It's a troublesome act first, think later approach.

Then again, if this were easy, we wouldn't be in Afghanistan for seven years now.

Musings

Sooner or later, the media is going to have to conclude that Joe Biden is a bigger embarrassment than Dan Quayle. The Daily News pathetically runs cover for the Veep by claiming he's got a great resume. They spend one paragraph on that great resume the rest of the article discusses various Bidenisms. Geez.

When President Obama signs the spending (er, stimulus) package. It will be his recession, depression, whatever.

Now that the New York media has beaten up Alex Rodriguez -- what can they do for an encore? It's going to an awkward baseball season, that's for sure.

Timmy Geithner had a bad week last week with his poorly planned TARP II plan. Geez, he had gone a whole week without having a bad week. A country of 300 million and he's the best we can do for a Treasury Secretary?

I like a winter thaw as much as the next guy, but there's something about winter bodies trying to fit into summer clothes that just isn't right. There's a reason why we have a spring, after all.

Maybe the movie, Shopaholic, is a year too late?

Those "Brett's going to do two years with the Jets" stories were only half right after all.

Things that Obama Will Not Be Known For...

...the "smart policy" president. When his political capital was at its height, he outsourced his stimulus package to a pair of big-government types. Then he "campaigned" on it by offering its chief virtue -- it's something. You may call it pragmatism -- I call it indecision. (BTW, his pick of Joe (Loose Lips) Biden hasn't gotten better with age.)

...the "post-partisan" president. Sure there were a couple of photo ops with the GOP as the stimulus was winding its way through Congress but Obama spoke as it the Republicans didn't have a plan to revive the economy. His denunciations of GOP criticism wouldn't be a big deal except for the fact that his campaign was all about crossing the aisle. I suspect when 2011 comes around, he may regret his clenched fist.

...the "ethical" president. When it comes to waivers for erstwhile lobbyists to work in his administration -- well, let's just say they've become "tidal waivers." When you have way too many exceptions, you really don't have a rule. And as long as poor Timmy Geithner is the Treasury Secretary, he'll remain the poster child for tax-dodgers everywhere.

The good news is that it's only the first month in office. The bad news, I suspect, is that it won't get any better.

Ruminations

My biggest nightmare? Being trapped in a room with those pitchmen for The New York Times weekender subscription plan. The guy who is "fluent" in three sections scares me.

Those folks who sell Eight O'Clock Coffee are limiting the appeal of their product, right?

The Pro Bowl and the Grammys were held yesterday. The day when the nadirs for both the sports and cultural world collide. Quick -- who won what in 2007? I thought so.

Give credit where it's due: The New York Times has been steadfast on the unsuitability of Geithner and Daschle for Cabinet positions. Moreover, they have been a thorn in the side of Congressman-for-Life Charlie Rangel.

In grammar school, I had a friend pitch a dumb idea to the teacher. He almost had his head ripped off. Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid have Obama Barack pitching their stimulus plan. When it fails -- like my dumb idea -- who do you think's going to feel the heat from the voters?

Speaking of the stimulus plan, do you recall when you waited until the final weekend for that high school or college term paper? It was a rush job but you were OK with the "C" grade because, well, you didn't really apply yourself -- despite the fact that you had a month to get it done? I get that feeling with the "stimulus" proposal.

If I were Manny Ramirez, I'd be checking my investments about now. Why? Because the days of the million dolar plus incomes may have abruptly come to an end.

On a sad day, I sing a happy song and realize that I'm not Plaxico Burress.

On a really sad day, I sing a happier song and realize that I'm not Roger Clemens.