Fausta's blog

McCain is visiting Mexico and Colombia.

William McGurn, writing in the WSJ, calls it John McCain's JFK Opportunity:

If these words have more of a Republican ring to them, it's probably because it has been some time since any Democratic Party leader has offered such muscular language – especially with regard to trade and opportunity and American purpose. To the contrary, JFK would have a hard time reconciling his outward and optimistic vision with the crabbed protectionism the Democratic Party now stands for. And there's no better example than the way House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has refused to schedule a vote on a U.S. trade agreement with Colombia.

Even the critics have mostly given up arguing the economics of this agreement. Under legislation Congress has approved, most Colombian goods already enter the U.S. duty free. The same is not true for what we export to Colombia. So mostly what this agreement would do is level the playing field for American goods and send an important signal to the region that we know who our friends are.

This is an excellent opportunity for McCain,

The Colombia trade agreement plays to his strength as a leader, and it is consistent with his long record as a supporter of free trade. It also comports with his instincts on foreign policy. Mr. McCain appreciates that demagogues like Hugo Chávez are just itching for the chance to exploit a permanently stalled trade pact with their enemy Colombia. "See," they will tell the people of the region, "the Americans will never treat you as equals."

The choice is stark. Mr. Obama is on record as saying he would meet with Mr. Chavez – a declared enemy of the U.S. In sharp contrast, this week Mr. McCain will be standing with Mr. Uribe – a proven friend.

Related post: Bill Richardson, Hugo's latest friend



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Labels: Colombia, Election2008, Hugo Chavez, John McCain, Venezuela

Mary Anastasia O'Grady has an excellent article, Markets for the Poor in Mexico on Compartamos Banco, a for-profit bank whose average loan size is $450. Compartamos Banco is a public company; do-gooders critize Compartamos Banco

What was once written off as an unviable market became a hot opportunity, and Compartamos was well positioned to capitalize on it in Mexico. Last year the company launched an initial public offering that was oversubscribed 13 times. That's when the do-gooders stepped in to question the company's ethics.

In a commentary published last June on the Compartamos IPO, Richard Rosenberg, a consultant for the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor – not part of the World Bank but housed on its premises – observes that the demand for shares in the company was driven, in part, by "exceptional growth and profitability." He then ruminates for some 16 pages on whether Compartamos's for-profit model is at odds with the goal of lifting the poor. A similar, though far less rigorous, challenge to Compartamos titled "Microloan Sharks" appears in the summer issue of the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

Demonstrate that you can make money by lending to the poor, and that the poor will profit from the loans, and get the doo-gooders upset.

Sweet.

Here's Mary's video:




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Labels: business, Mexico

Juliette Ochieng of Baldilocks makes a second podcast visit and talks about children who grow up away from their parents, Obama, Wes Clark, politics, and blogging and Acidman.

Chat opens at 10:45 and the call-in number is 646 652-2639. Join us!

Labels: Blog Talk Radio

Ben Smith: Clark won't back down: Retired general Wesley Clark says,

There are many important issues in this Presidential election, clearly one of the most important issues is national security and keeping the American people safe. In my opinion, protecting the American people is the most important duty of our next President. I have made comments in the past about John McCain's service and I want to reiterate them in order be crystal clear. As I have said before I honor John McCain's service as a prisoner of war and a Vietnam Veteran. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in Armed Forces as a prisoner of war. I would never dishonor the service of someone who chose to wear the uniform for our nation.

John McCain is running his campaign on his experience and how his experience would benefit him and our nation as President. That experience shows courage and commitment to our country - but it doesn't include executive experience wrestling with national policy or go-to-war decisions. And in this area his judgment has been flawed - he not only supported going into a war we didn't have to fight in Iraq, but has time and again undervalued other, non-military elements of national power that must be used effectively to protect America. But as an American and former military officer I will not back down if I believe someone doesn't have sound judgment when it comes to our nation's most critical issues.

I guess this is what passes for logic in Clark's mind.

But what it comes down to is, "The poor democrats...still think John Kerry lost because his service to his country was attacked, rather than his disservice", as Orrin Judd put it and Ed Driscoll added.

So they are repeatedly attacking McCain on his Vietnam experience in order to put McCain on the defensive, and to put McCain's heroism and character on the same (low) level as Kerry's.

Clearly Obama has no national security experience, no command experience, no military experience (may I point out that McCain served in the Navy for 8 years after he was released by the Vietcong?), no diplomatic experience (even when he's willing to meet with our enemies without preconditions), and in his two measly years in the Senate has not been in the Senate Armed Services Committee. The Obama people have to come up with this stuff because they can not afford to have anyone compare Obama's resume to McCain's.

I was talking to Rick Moran yesterday afternoon, and this is one issue McCain can take on, and run with it: experience and national security. Once McCain explains to the American people how important our energy policy is and how it is pertinent to our national security and economic well-being, an issue McCain's experience and character well qualifies him for, he'll win the election.

It looks like McCain's taking that approach:

The important thing is that if that's the kind of campaign that Senator Obama and his surrogates and his supporters want to wage, I understand that, but it doesn't reduce the price of a gallon of gas by one penny. It doesn't achieve our energy independence, make it come any closer. It doesn't help an American stay in their home who are at risk of losing it today. And it certainly doesn't do anything to address the challenges that Americans have in keeping their jobs, their homes and supporting their families. So, I intend to, in this campaign, to discuss the challenges we face, ... and [the] many other proposals and ideas and a plan of action I have to help the families of this nation.

In the meantime, may Aravosis repeat his question. It'll only make the public realize what Obama supporters really are like.



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Labels: Barack Obama, Election2008, John McCain, politics

I loved Daniel Craig's Bond, and now there's more to love:




Scheduled to open November 7.



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Labels: James Bond, movies

Some on left target McCain's war record

"A lot of people don't know ... that McCain made a propaganda video for the enemy while he was in captivity," wrote Americablog.com's John Aravosis. "Putting that bit of disloyalty aside, what exactly is McCain's military experience that prepares him for being commander in chief?"

"Getting shot down, tortured and then doing propaganda for the enemy is not command experience," Aravosis wrote in the blog post, titled "Honestly, besides being tortured, what did McCain do to excel in the military?"

HONESTLY, IS JOHN ARAVOSIS A PIECE OF EXCREMENT OR WHAT?

Yes he is.

But take a look at what Wesley Clark has to say:



How stupid is Wesley Clark?, asks Ed Morrissey:

In "the matter of national security policy making." Barack Obama hasn't ever done anything.
In the matter of gauging your "opponents", Obama wants to meet with them without preconditions despite having no national-security, military, or diplomatic experience.
Barack Obama hasn't been on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Barack Obama hasn't had any executive experience.
Barack Obama hasn't commanded anything, in wartime or not.
Barack Obama hasn't dealt with diplomats in any capacity at all.
Barack Obama hasn't ordered the bombs to fall, although to be fair, he has associated himself with someone who has — William Ayers.

Well, at least Aravosis and Clark aren't complaining about Obama's teeth.

Is this the "change" that everyone wants in Washington?

Good question.



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Labels: Barack Obama, Democrats, Election2008, John McCain, politics

I just got back in town after spending a delightful week in Florida with family and friends, hence, the abridged Carnival.

If you would like your posts included in next week's Carnival, please email me: faustaw2 "at" gmail "dot" com.

ARGENTINA
¿Arde Argentina?

BOLIVIA
Bolivia's Annual "Punch Your Neighbor In the Face" Festival


BRAZIL
Lula Abandons Radical Past, Ushering in Brazil Growth

Brazilian Secret 93 Million Don't Want to Talk About Is Racism

Biofuels in Brazil: Lean, green and not mean

CHILE
Presidente del Senado pide fin a los juicios a militares

COLOMBIA
McCain's visit to Colombia

CUBA
Anyone for cocktails? Outsiders bet that bigger changes are on their way

Babalu celebrates its 5 yr anniversary

ECUADOR
Presidente Correa cuestiona carta de Human Rights Fundation

Human Rights Foundation responds to President Correa's accusations and declares Guadalupe Llori a political prisoner of Ecuador's governmentHuman Rights Foundation responds to President Correa's accusations and declares Guadalupe Llori a political prisoner of Ecuador's government

MEXICO
Outrage: Our "friends" in Mexico release suspect in Border Patrol officer’s murder

NICARAGUA
Why Iran is building a $200 million dam in Nicaragua

Nicaragua: The Inherent Dangers of Being a Militant Mecca

Nicas take to the streets to protest Ortega and the Pacto

PERU
Spy chief defends Peru's Fujimori

VENEZUELA
Oil fuels war!

Chavez losing political support

Venezuelan military officers complain against Chavez

Immigration
Phoenix man killed at home by three Mexican militiamen in military gear, or maybe not

School Puts Mexican-Americans on the Road to Success

Special thanks to Eneas, Larwyn, Maggie, Maria, and Siggy



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Labels: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Carnival of Latin America, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, immigration, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela

In addition to the cult of Obama, Obama himself has been carrying a charm of the Hindu god Hanuman, so Hanuman devotees will be sending him a statue of the revered Indian monkey God, Hanuman:

The group decided to order the idol after they read a magazine report saying that Mr Obama carried a good luck 'monkey king' charm.

Seems that the Indians are hoping for change, and a miracle or two,

"Obama stands for change. We are hoping that he will bring about change so that oil and food prices come down," he said.

The Times of India reports that

Obama's representative Carolyn Sauvage-Mar on Tuesday received a gold-plated two-feet-high idol which she will pass it on to the Obama after it is sanctified.

The idol is being presented to Obama as he is reported to be a Lord Hanuman devotee and carries with him a locket of the monkey god along with other good luck charms.

The idol will be kept at the temple for 11 more days (starting from June 24, the date of the news item) and then sent to US, which means the idol is due to arrive on July 4.

I wonder what the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities in the USA will have to say about this Obaman fondness for "good luck charms"...


(h/t Steve)



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Labels: Barack Obama, Democrats, Election2008, politics

... says The Manolo, who found it at Times on Line:

According to Vatican sources the Pope's shoes are made by a cobbler from Novara called Adriano Stefanelli, who makes them from calf or kid for the winter and nappa leather for the summer. Papal shoe repairs are carried out by Antonio Arellano, a Peruvian shoemaker in the Borgo, the medieval quarter next to St Peter's. The article, on "Ratzinger's Liturgical Vestments", was written by Juan Manuel de Prada, the noted Spanish writer and author of The Tempest, who is not related to the fashion company. De Prada said that the image of the German-born Pope as concerned with "frivolity" was at odds with the truth, which was that he was a "simple and sober" man. Suggestions to the contrary were "stupid and banal".

And here I thought Shakespeare wrote The Tempest.

In one of life's coincidences, Novara is the town I was referring to when I wrote this post four years ago.
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I'm still on vacation so instead of the WSj's 5 best books links, please buy Steve's cookbook:

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Not Prada, and definitely not Papal, today's shoes, perfect for the beach:

Labels: books, Pope Benedict, shoes

Last night we had the pleasure of having dinner with charming and hansome Steve Graham of Hog on Ice, author of the funniest and most delicious cookbook ever to hit the stands. Steve brought his delicious brownies, and my whole family loves them.

You've GOT to try his cheesecake: just take a look at the picture. Steve says,

Food is a lot like women. The most attractive women aren't the perfect ones. The most attractive women have a lot of good features, plus one or two things that make them look "possible." If a woman looks so great you know you have no shot, she tends to become invisible.

Buy the book!

UPDATE, Sunday 29 June
Welcome, Protein Wisdom readers. You're going to love Steve's excellent cookbook.



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Labels: Florida, food, friends

Anne-Elisabeth Moutet, former deputy editor of Proche-Orient.info writes about the alDura trial and verdict:
L'Affaire Enderlin
Being a French journalist means never having to say you're sorry.

You might think Enderlin's professional standing would have been damaged by all this. You would be wrong. In less than a week, a petition was whipped up by his friends at Le Nouvel Observateur, France's premier left-wing newsweekly. The petition conceded no gray areas, no hint of doubt. It called Karsenty's vehemently argued but exhaustively documented stance a "seven-year hate-filled smear campaign" aimed at destroying Enderlin's "professional dignity." It flatly stated in the opening paragraph that Muhammad al-Dura was killed "by shots coming from the Israeli position." It expressed rank astonishment at a legal ruling "granting equal credibility to a journalist renowned for his rigorous work, and to willful deniers ignorant of the local realities and with no journalistic experience." It professed concern about a jurisprudence that would-shock! horror!-allow "anyone, in the name of good faith and of a supposed right to criticize and so-called freedom of speech, to smear with impunity the honor and the reputation of news professionals."

Read about the aftermath of the verdict.

Powerline:

Based on film footage provided by a Palestinian cameraman, Enderlin's report has become infamous among students of Arab propaganda both for its destructive effects and for its probable falsity. The al-Dura affair now bids to join the Dreyfus affair in the French hall of shame.

Indeed.

Prior posts on the al-Dura trial here.
Most recent podcast here
To donate to Second Draft, the mailing address is
Second Draft
P O Box 590591
Newton Center Mass 02459



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Labels: AlDura, France2, Israel, propaganda

Daniel Ortega and his Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) the subjects of this Stratfor report:
Nicaragua: The Inherent Dangers of Being a Militant Mecca (h/t Siggy.)

However, the fall of the Soviet Union affected more than just economics. As the political landscape shifted in the late 1980s, places that had served as havens and training bases for Marxist militants, such as South Yemen and East Germany, became less welcoming. In 1990, both of those countries ceased to exist. This left a lot of fugitive Marxist militants looking for a place to go, and many of them relocated to Managua. What resulted was an influx of Marxist militants from European groups such as the Irish Republican Army, ETA and the Red Brigades, as well as Middle Eastern militants, such as representatives of the various Palestinian Marxist-oriented groups.

Some of the fugitives who moved to Managua were educated, skilled and surprisingly entrepreneurial. A couple from the Italian Red Brigades opened a popular Italian restaurant in downtown Managua, and members of the Basque group ETA opened an automobile repair garage in Managua's Santa Rosa neighborhood.

Go read every word.

Just last week the Washington Post was writing about Ortega and Nicaragua's Eroding Democracy. Daniel Ortega, like Hugo Chavez, has had himself elected to office in order to establish a dictatorship. He has named his wife co-president; he might be looking at a line of succession, considering how he went missing for several days earlier this month for reasons that were never made clear.

Things in Nicaragua are getting so bad that even Noam Chomsky is acussing Ortega of stifling dissent.

Noam Chomsky, Salman Rushdie, Bianca Jagger and other high-profile former sympathisers have joined a chorus of alarm at recent actions.

Back when he got elected

Ortega returned to power after swapping fatigues and Marxist rhetoric for white linen shirts and John Lennon peace songs. Venezuela's president, Hugo Chávez, has pledged subsidised oil to his socialist ally but Ortega's ratings have slumped to 21%, according to a recent poll, on the back of high inflation and enduring poverty.

Good-bye John Lennon, hello again, FSLN's buddies.



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Labels: Latin America, Nicaragua, terrorism

Today at 11AM Eastern, Kevin McCullough joins us. We'll be talking about politics, and this week's Supreme Court decisions on the death penalty and guns.

Chat's open at 10:45AM and the call-in number is 646 652-2639. Join us!

Labels: Blog Talk Radio, podcasts

Israel Matzav:

The UN 'Human Rights Council' decided this week that it is forbidden to criticize Islam because "religious issues can be "very complex, very sensitive and very intense…This council is not prepared to discuss religious matters in depth, consequently we should not do it." From now on, only religious scholars would be permitted to broach 'religious matters' before the Council.

This means that any crimes committed by Islamists can not be addressed by the UN's HRC. The Organization of Islamic Countries is the largest voting block at the UN.

While we can not criticize Islam, it's OK to protest security measures on religious grounds:
And Now, Sniffer Dogs Are Offensive: Muslims travelling on trains from Brighton have objected to sniffer dogs being used to search them for drugs and bombs.



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Labels: Islam, religion, UN

Supreme Court says Americans have right to guns

LaShawn Barber will start bearing.

La Shawn also has the full text of the decision.

The Supreme Court's ruling on Thursday that a District of Columbia ban on handgun ownership is unconstitutional appears to be solidly in step with public opinion.

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Labels: law, SCOTUS

After meeting with Palestinian and Israeli leaders in his trip to Israel, a soldier shot himself dead during Sarkozy's airport departure ceremony on Tuesday.

UK Telegraph headline: Nicolas Sarkozy assassination scare: Mystery over suicide policeman

Here's a video report:


Another video, at the BBC.

Here's the Times on Line video clip

The policeman's family refutes claims that he killed himself

Police said that Mr Ghanan, 32, was from the northern Israeli town of Beit Dajan and was a member of the Druze community, a minority group whose religion includes an eclectic mix of beliefs rooted initially in Islam.

Naif Ghanan, Raed’s brother, said that police who informed the family of the death told them that the circumstances of the incident were still being investigated. "It is unthinkable that my brother took his own life. We believe this was an accident ' or even an incident in which my brother was accidentally shot by one of the security officials in the area," he said.

The family said that it had hired a lawyer to ensure there was a "complete and detailed" investigation and to gain access to security video footage from the airport.

I'll be following this story.



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Labels: France, Israel, Nicolas Sarkozy

Eighth Amendment Question: Isn't Brutally Raping an Eight-year-old More Cruel Than Lethal Injection?, asks Andy McCarthy.

The answer, of course, is yes.

But the dishonesty of the judges is what shines through in this decision. As McCarthy points out,

Wouldn't it be refreshingly honest if activist justices just bluntly us: "We don't like the death penalty and we can stop it because there are five of us." Sure, it would be tyrannical, but at least it would be accurate, and not nearly as nauseating as what passes for reasoning in these cases.

I wonder if the same kind of perverse reasoning will apply one day and would not give the death penalty to someone who takes justice into their own hands and kills a child rapist rather than have the rapist go through the system and benefit from the Justices' "reasoning".



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Labels: crime, SCOTUS

While China, Cuba, Venezuela and Brazil do their outmost to drink our offshore milkshake, Obama's saying that offshore drilling is "a gimmick":

Obama, who wants to keep a moratorium on offshore drilling, will argue that McCain is offering a "gimmick" similar to the gas tax holiday proposal.
...
In Las Vegas this afternoon, Obama slammed McCain's energy proposals, arguing that they are "gimmicks" that may poll well but do not provide immediate relief. Obama said that he supports McCain's $300 million battery prize but that alone would not be enough.

In the same speech, Obama proposed a "stimulus package", "another round of rebate checks to the American people", and, the biggie:GREEN JOBS
Not gimmicks, no siree....

After all, green jobs may help bring down the price of arugula.

But hey, there's good news on energy policy coming from the Dems: Maxine Waters's spokeperson claims that she didn't really mean it when Waters talked about nationalizing the oil industry. As Betsy says,

At least we're still at the point that even someone like Waters has to pretend that she doesn't really want to socialize American industry.

One has to wonder what Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has to say next. Here's what he was saying last week:

Link: sevenload.com

Meanwhile, the Brazilians oil exploration may mean that their recent discoveries may all be connected and form one big oil field. How's that for a gimmick, Obama?

While we wait for the senator to answer that question, let's ponder the No Zone again:

Labels: Congress, Democrats, Election2008, John McCain, oil. Barack Obama

Tammany Hall's senior senator

Dodd, whose Countrywide Mortgage deal was in the news, has been trying to laugh the story off (after all, he's a Democrat, so that sort of thing doesn't count, doesn't it?). But some from his party aren't as keen,

Perhaps the most biting commentary was written by Democrat David Kahane, a National Review Online columnist whose lasting impression of Sen. Dodd is "his shock of white hair, his vaguely New England-ish accent, his hazy demeanor and his utter lack of shame."

"I know you're as shocked as I am," Mr. Kahane told his readers, "to discover that Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Countrywide) has been identified as a 'Friend of Angelo,' amid charges that the Enron of subprime mortgages gave him a sweetheart deal. ... You're probably also stunned that Dodd — the chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and the alleged other half of the Edward Moore Kennedy Memorial Waitress Sandwich — had to admit the other day, 'I don't know what interest rates are today.'"

Moreover, he wrote, "it will no doubt astonish you to learn that Dodd, who some say ran for the Democrat nomination for president this year before his campaign collapsed from terminal anti-charisma, along the way shook down — excuse me, 'collected millions of dollars in campaign contributions from' — various subprime lenders and other real-estate types whose activities he oversaw.

Go read the rest.



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Labels: corruption, Democrats, politics