You Think It, He Says It
Maryland US Senate candidate Dan Bongino says what we're all thinking - the Obama administration's statement on Libya are either lies or a vast show of incompotence. Here's the quote:
'The Administration's continuing claims that the Libyan protests, which resulted in the horrific deaths of four Americans along with our Ambassador, were the result of unpredictable, spontaneous protest activity are either intentionally deceptive or demonstrate complete incompetence.
Having spent over a decade reviewing threat assessments from all over the world, it is hard to believe that given the amount of information Libyan officials claim to have passed to the U.S. government regarding the active terrorist threat to our personnel on the ground, that the Administration sincerely believes this deadly assault to be spontaneous. There are only two potential answers, either the threat to our personnel was ignored due to incompetence or political concerns regarding the approaching election influenced the allocation of security forces to the region. I am calling upon the State Department to immediately release any information related to the threat assessment which led to the sub-standard and deadly security footprint in Benghazi.
Additionally, Bongino was interviewed by Ginni Thomas of the Daily Caller. You can check it out here or watch the interview below:
Old Line Elephant Link Roundup 3/29/11
As I promised others last week, I'm going to try to make this a weekly occurrence. Here's some quick, bulleted items that I think should be on your radar from Maryland to a galaxy far, far away.
- Mandatory delivery of white pages to people's homes in Maryland seems to be going the way of the dodo. The State Senate just passed a bill ending the requirement. My State Senator, the 76 year old Norm Stone (D) voted against it. This won't impact delivery of the yellow pages to people's homes, so it's only a small step in the right direction. Mandatory requirements like this are silly, especially with widespread access to the internet / libraries who will have said information.
- The Maryland State Senate also looked to ease some restrictions on minority owned business requirements in State contracting. How much easing? Well, there are no longer hard and fast numbers for how many women owned or black owned businesses need to received contracts with the state. While I feel this is a step in the right direction, I honestly don't think we need any rules requiring a specific number of minority owned businesses for state contracting. Let the bidding begin with whatever business is most capable of doing the job - period.
- With all the most important issues already dealt with, the Maryland legislature has been pushing through new laws which would allow people to bring their pets to outdoor dining locations. I mean, really? This is more pressing then finding ways to close our budget gap? Or...frankly anything whatsoever? Seriously.
- When asked in a recent trip to Iowa whether he was thinking about running for President in 2012 what did John Bolton say? "Well, I'm here?" It's a big, potential step towards a run even showing up at a meet and greet like that for a man who's never ran for public office before. While I think that's fascinating, I still say he should run for US Senate in Maryland.
- Check out this editorial on Libya by the far more articulate than me, Brian Griffiths of Red Maryland. It does a great job of laying out the major concerns with the situation.
- Speaking of editorials, check out this one by RightKlik on Obamacare and..."Weiner Waivers."
- Our local, Christian radio station - 95.1 Shine FM - is having their annual fundraiser. Check it out and if you're in the Baltimore area...or even if you're not, consider throwing them a few dollars.
- If you're like me, you're a big dork who has fallen in love with Star Wars: Clone Wars (Fridays on Cartoon Network). This Friday is the season finale. Lightsaber Rattling has two, spoiler free reviews of the two part finale. Bottom Line: My son and I will be enjoying some awesome, Clone Wars era, Chewbacca action in the finale. I look forward to it!
- Speaking of Star Wars - these polygonal images of Star Wars characters are a site to behold. Very well crafted.
- Artist James Hance has created what looks to be a masterpiece - mashing Star Wars and A.A. Milne's classic Pooh stories into a book he calls, "Wookie the Chew: The House at Chew Corner." The artwork is spot on, looking much like what you saw in Milne's classic. Definitely worth checking out.
Feel free to leave suggested links for items that you find interesting in the comments on national / local politics or on items you find fascinating; and of course, comments on the links are encouraged.
Bolton on Libya
Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton has a new editorial on the situation in Libya, outlining four mistakes that he feels the President must not make for it to be successful. Here's an excerpt from the article:
First, do not wait until it’s almost too late. Had America intervened in the opening days of Libya’s conflict, such a prompt and decisive move could have tipped the balance in the opposition’s favor. By thus demonstrating to Qaddafi’s loyalists he had no hope of retaining power, we might have ended his regime with far less risk of casualties and protracted engagement than we face today. Instead, by dithering for a month on whether to use force, Obama raised both the risks and the grave consequences of failure or stalemate.
Second, do not embrace confused and imprecise mission objectives. Obama, his key advisers, and our coalition partners are at sea on whether overthrowing Qaddafi is our ultimate objective. That should be the goal, and we should not hesitate to say so.
Obama confuses things when he says Qaddafi’s departure is a “political” but not a military objective, thus highlighting the glaring disjunction in his strategic thinking. Obama also said that “the writ of the international community must be enforced. That is the cause of this coalition.” What does that really mean?
Obama’s stated objective of “protecting innocent civilians within Libya” is actually more ambiguous than flatly endorsing regime change. As Washington has emphasized for weeks, the most acute threat to Libya’s people is precisely Muammar Qaddafi. How can the civilians be protected while allowing him to remain in power in any part of Libya? Moreover, on Friday, Obama demanded unconditionally that Qaddafi withdraw from three Libyan cities he already controls or where he is engaged. If Qaddafi fails to withdraw, but otherwise observes a cease fire, is Obama really prepared to continue using military force to drive Qaddafi from these cities? And why those cities and not others where Qaddafi has used military force indiscriminately?
Check out the entire article. Worth a read.
Cross-posted to Race42012
Maryland Blogs / Sites
- Augie "Citizen Watchdog"
- Baltimore County GOP
- Benstorming
- Frontline State
- Maryland Business for Responsive Government
- Maryland Public Policy Institute
- Maryland Reporter
- Maryland Society of Patriots
- MD Conservative Action Network
- Potomac Tea Party Report
- Right Coast Conservative
- Tony McConkey's Blog
- Watchdog Wire Maryland
National Blogs / Sites
- Anthropocon
- Bearing Drift
- Oddly Said
- Pithy Title Goes Here
- RightKlik
- Ruby Slippers
- Secular ProLife
- The Quinton Report
- TORARADICALcom
Regular Reads
- Ed Stetzer
- Moe Lane
- monoblogue
- Other McCain
- Race42016
- Red Maryland
- RedState
- SBC Voices
- Sundries Shack
Religious Blogs / Sites
- Catholic Coffee Talk
- Challies.com
- Coleen York
- Edgemere Baptist Church
- Just1Word
- Tally Wilgis
- The Girl On The Road To Self Discovery
- Thom Rainer
