Haiti’s President

Haiti’s president, sadly, is no leader.

Here’s his interview with CNN. (does anyone else want to punch him?)

And here is a quote from the Washington Post.

He lamented that injured people have been lying in the streets since the quake struck, saying, “We don’t have the capacity to bring them to the hospital.”

May I suggest a bullhorn and volunteers from the groups of people not knowing how they can help?
I know, I know. I’m not there, but this guy is the President. And this quote is 2-3 days later. Imagine our President suggesting that “well, we just don’t have the ability…….”
(Yes – I am an American. I don’t “get” inaction.)

The Washington Post story lists the aid going into Haiti as I write. Unlike other times, this is definitely looking like an international effort and that pleases me.

Coakley is an idiot

MA is full of very smart people. If they really choose to elect Coakley at this point, I’ll be very surprised.

She has suggested that shaking hands outside of Fenway is somehow something she shouldn’t have to do.
That’s ok Martha, Scott Brown will handle those folks for you…..oh – yeah, that’s about 3/4 of the whole state!

(ht Ace of spades)

One day the Elected will see themselves as Public Servants

The other day during the debate in MA Scott Brown made a comment that caused me to open my wallet. He noted after being asked about sitting in Ted Kennedy’s seat, that “it’s the people’s seat”. (buy the t-shirt here)

That is a man who respects who an office holder is. A representative of the people.

In California in the race for Barbara Boxer’s seat there is an article in the LA Times about the twist in the GOP side of the race. Carly Fiorina is finding some competition.

One can see why just by reading this bit:

Fiorina is promoting herself as the only nonpolitician in the race, a problem-solver who rose from secretarial temp to become the only woman to head a Fortune 20 company. While she says her values match DeVore’s, she also deems herself more electable, in part because she is a woman.

“With all due respect and deep affection for white men — I am married to one — but she knows how to beat them in California,” Fiorina said of Boxer. “She’s done it over and over and over.”

In that one quote she tells me that she thinks voters can be played. And that voters care more about the color of skin/or sex than the “content of character”. I say, insult me like that and you don’t deserve to represent anyone. Ok, nor does Barbara Boxer, but that’s a different post.

Best of luck to Chuck Devore in CA.

Earthquake

Well, it’s not Bangledesh where most disasters happen, but Haiti isn’t much better.

Der Spiegel has the German angle. They also have a link to a lot of photographs sent from phones right there. It is a new world.

UMCOR is my favorite disaster group. The folks in Haiti will need anything you have including prayers.

Afghanistan

General McChrystal believes the buildup is showing success.

In an interview with ABC television on Monday, General Stanley McChrystal said the decision by Barack Obama, the US president, to increase American troop numbers in the country has “changed the way we operate in Afghanistan”.

“We’ve been at this for about seven months now and I believe we’ve made progress,” he said.

“I believe we are on the way to convincing the Afghan people that we are here to protect them.”

Keith Hennessey

Keith’s blog is getting more and more upscale every time I turn around.

Kyle Smith with a bug up his butt

Yesterday Kyle spent time writing a column about the fat models magazine spread in Vogue.

Why?

Apparently he’s very upset that we aren’t more critical of the overweight and we sure shouldn’t be admiring them or giving them space in a fashion magazine.

Somehow he wraps the whole magazine around whether or not having overweight models (or fatties or blimps or Norbits or…well, he uses all sorts of terms) is good for the magazine business. Um – yes, dude it is.

The purpose of the magazine is two fold. 1-sell ads, 2-sell the magazine and the fashion. Maybe Calvin Klein doesn’t want an add next to an overweight model, but by coming out with these versions every once in a while, real people can see what “fashionable” clothes look like in sizes you’re likely to find at the local Walmart.

The average American lard lady would, if sent to Paris, find herself slimming down instantly. Paris is, literally and figuratively, built for the tiny and lithe. American giantesses wouldn’t be able to squeeze into a subway seat or through the closely-arranged tables of a 5th arrondissement cafe, and, if they tried, they’d be subject to mutters of disapproval and rude stares. Shame — the certain knowledge that you have given those around you ample reason to disapprove — is a powerful societal weapon. See how well it worked on cigarette smokers and drunk drivers? Importing a little Parisian attitude to America would vastly benefit the tubby.

Yes, let’s go back to times of “shaming” people for doing things you find unacceptable….because that’s a better way to live. Like in Paris! Where in reality people slim down because the whole place is made for walking. And walk they do.

Mr. Smith couches his insulting statements about overweight women by comparing the beauty of James Gandolfino and Rosanne. ? How about Queen Latifah or an internet favorite, Christina Hendricks? No. Overweight to him = Rosanne.

He wants to blame feminism for female obesity and would like for us to be more Parisian with shame meted out to the “fatties”. I would rather the shame be meted out for extramarital affairs (like here, but unlike Paris) and leave rotundness to the rotund.

I can’t believe Mr. Smith cares so much about this. I probably don’t read enough to know much about him specifically though…I can’t believe anyone cares so much about this. I just don’t have anything else to write about today and as long as we’re doing NYCity nannystatism we might as well turn to a NYC columnist who “cares” about your body mass.

First they came for the transfats…..

First they came for the transfats and I didn’t say anything.
Then they came for the sugary sodas….and I didn’t say anything.

Is it too late?

Am I too late to save salt?

On Monday, the Bloomberg administration plans to unveil a broad new health initiative aimed at encouraging food manufacturers and restaurant chains across the country to curtail the amount of salt in their products.

Scott Brown

First the warning from HillBuzz:

For the next ten days, the most effective thing the Left will do is to demoralize Scott Brown’s supporters to convince them to sit their butts home on election day. It is a time-proven and successful tactic of the Left. Frankly, it’s the best tool in their arsenal. We call this Eeyore-breeding and concern-trolling.

Then the warning made actual in a headline:

Scott Brown swearing-in would be stalled to pass health-care reform

Things to Remember

from Leon Panetta

The CIA cannot speak publicly about its major victories — the plots foiled, the terrorists neutralized. In the past year, we have done exceptionally heavy damage to al-Qaeda and its associates. That’s why the extremists hit back. And it is all the more reason why we intend to stay on the offensive.

Obviously something was missed. That doesn’t mean the CIA is an agency of jackasses. Other somethings have not been missed, over and over again.