The importance of Obama’s appearance at Notre Dame

I have been silent until now about the president’s commencement address at the University of Notre Dame. I did so for a few reasons, chief among them the fact that I am more driven by economic issues than social ones (as should be obvious from the blog’s history).  One other reason was that I simply wasn’t as outraged as so many others were at ND.  Having gone to graduate school at Georgetown, I had seen first-hand the effects of a Catholic-founded school that had departed from its initial calling.  Thus, what Notre Dame’s establishment did surprised me less than most.  Those who have followed the football team and its treatment of Ty Willingham saw that Notre Dame was, well, different now.

What intrigued me more is what Obama himself said in his address, or to be more precise, what I think he felt forced to say.

I’m guessing that in the president’s perfect world, he could have ignored the issue of abortion entirely, or at the very least dismiss it with a wave of his hand and a few choice words (pun partially intended).  It’s the usual Alinksy game: take up the majority position, isolate the minority, and make them look strange and undesirable on some level.

I’m fairly certain that was his plan at ND – and it probably would have worked, until the American people told Gallup their thoughts on the subject and changed everything.

America has had president opposed to pre-born protection before.  They even had one speak at Notre Dame (Jimmy Carter, although that was in a different era and he made it memorable with his appalling naivete about the Soviet Union).  What America had notseen was such a president forced to preside over a pro-life nation.  I guarantee you that Barack Obama didn’t see this in any job description of the presidency that he saw.

Ignoring and dismissing the minority is, when done right, smart and smooth politics. Ignoring and dismissing the majority is almost always a ticket to political oblivion.

Thus Barack Obama became the first such American president to validate the pro-life opposition as a legitimate political movement; you can tell with his words – especially given his insistence that words matter.  Take a look (AP via From On High):

Obama acknowledged that “no matter how much we want to fudge it … the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable.”

. . .

“I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away,” the president said. 

This is a major departure from the usual political rhetoric.  Opponents of fetal protection always assume -and say so publicly – that this issue will “go away.”  They alwaystry to present the issue as “reconcilable” – if only those non-sensical pro-lifers would get with the program.

Obama didn’t do that, because he knew he couldn’t.  Like his pro-life predecessor (who’s comment on this subject became the famous “good people can disagree on this issue”), he was dealing with an issue where the opposition outnumbered his supporters, and he reacted in much the same way.

It revealed that he is a very astute politician, but it also means that the abortion debate has entered a new phase.  After years of arrogant derision, the pro-choice side is finally beginning to acknowledge the other side as a legitimate political point of view.  That will lead to opportunities and challenges that could very well determine the final outcome (if there is to be one).

Got to hand it to Orlando

They certainly learned how to close the deal.

With 12 minutes left in Game 7, and up by seven points, the Magic had their best offensive quarter on the road for the series (35 points, second best quarter for them all series) and pulled away from Boston.

This is a good team, and it’s nice to see my favorite Knick (Patrick Ewing) back in the conference finals as an assistant coach.  All that said, I still can’t see them getting past Cleveland.

Taking “let them play” to a new level

Honestly, that’s what it looked like the refs were doing for a three-minute (game time) stretch of Game 7 (Magic-Celtics) tonight.  There were at least half-a-dozen surprising no-calls.

With five and a half left in the third, things seem back to “normal” now.  Magic lead by seven in the game to determine who gets pasted by LeBron and company in the conference finals.

How far have MPs fallen in the eyes of the British people?

This far (headline from the London Sunday Telegraph):

Our politicians could learn a lesson from congressmen

Ouch!

Abortion is a losing issue for the GOP, until it isn’t

According to Gallup, we have entered “it isn’t” territory:

A new Gallup Poll, conducted May 7-10, finds 51% of Americans calling themselves “pro-life” on the issue of abortion and 42% “pro-choice.” This is the first time a majority of U.S. adults have identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup began asking this question in 1995.

The pro-life self-identity is up among Republicans, Protestants, Catholics, men, women, conservatives, and moderates.  Two other interesting points: for the first time I’ve seen in any survey, men (54%) are more pro-life than women (49%); meanwhile, when asked under what circumstances abortion should be allowed, 60% went with the “few” or “none” options.

Now, this is only one issue – and only one poll on the issue – but if this holds up, it could yet be another example of the GOP’s time in “the wilderness” being cut short by metaphorical sprawl.

Liveblogging the Lakers-Rockets Game 6

10:24 PM – Greetings from the home console, where I am watching the Rockets paste the L.A. Lakers (for now) 27-15 at the end of the first period.  So far, only one Laker has come to play, and it’s not Kobe (it’s Lamar Odom).

10:33 PM – In my attempts to move the computer to a comfortabe position for my rear end, I disconnected the power cord three times (the battery, with a longer tenure in the laptop than Barack Obama has in Washington, is all but useless), so instead I’ve shifted the television to make it easier to blog from the desk.  Rockets up 33-21.

10:35 PM – Good news: Vujajic is providing some energy for the Lakers.  Bad news: he came in for Odom.  Rockets up 37-23.

10:37 PM – Another Lakers jumpshot with no one in the paint to rebound.  Rockets up 42-25.  Phil calls timeout.

10:41 PM – The Rockets have been using Shane Battier to defend Kobe, and he’s “held” Kobe to less than 30 ppg for this series.  Jeff van Gundy’s happy with his performance.  I remember Battier at Duke, he was a rare player who stayed all four years.  Good to see he is of some apparent use.  TV timeout over; Rockets up 42-27.

10:44 PM – Jeff Van Gundy is talking about what players should do (in reaction to Dwight Howard throwing his brother Stan under the bus after Game 5 never mind, see 12:09 AM).  Jeff owes his career to Patrick Ewing, who demanded JVG be made the permanent coach in 1997.  JVG sounds like he appreciates it.  Brother Stan had a good night (Magic came back to win Game 6; LeBron gets another two days off).  As I’m waxing philospohical, no one has scored, but Odom has another rebound on the defensive end.

10:46 PM – Odom makes one of two free throws.  Kobe misses a three; Odom manages to earn a loose-ball foul on the Rockets despite being boxed out, and makes one of two again.  The Houston lead is 13.

10:48 PM – Another Laker miss, although this time Odom was at least trying for a rebound.  Bad news for LA: Odom picks up two fouls in a minute.  Then again, if anyone else played defense  . . .  Houston up 44-29 with 3:10 left.

10:51 PM – Bryant scores, then blocks Battier.  Lakers don’t capitalize; Luis Scola does for Houston.  Margin still 15.  Kobe just got hit with a technical after locking up with Ron Artest, who took an elbow to the face and then ran away.  JVG is not happy with the call.

10:52 PM – Kia’s hamster commercial makes me happy the South Korean voters will be stuck bailing them out.  Meanwhile, JVG is still sounding off about “a legitimate elbow block.”  I loved JVG when he was a coach, but what’s a “legitimate elbow.”  Sure, it’s not a technical, but c’mon.  Houston up 47-33; 2 minutes left.

10:57 PM – Farmar gets real sloppy with the ball.  Odom makes a steal.  JVG and Mike Breen still going on about the T (just about everybody agrees the T was a mistake; JVG has said nothing about the personal foul call, so I guess he’s OK with that).  Mark Jackson says his old NBA buddies are “blowin’ up my phone” about the T.  Houston up 49-34 with 37 seconds left.

10:59 PM – Kobe makes a slam; Brooks hits a three in response – and at the half, the Rockets are up 52-36.  Since Houston opened the game with an 18-1 run, it’s been an even game, but Houston will take that all the way to LAX.

11:02 PM – In the five quarters I’ve been live-blogging them, the Lakers have been outscored 156-113.

11:05 PM – ESPN’s halftime show (excuse me, ESPN’s Toyota halftime show – hey, I like the Japanese people; they don’t deserve to get saddled with an auto bailout) replayed a post-T convo between Artest and Kobe.  Artest, trying to justify the call, was showing how Kobe’s elbow made him bite his tongue.  Kobe was unconvinced.

11:10 PM – Dominoe’s latest effort to ensure I never see the southside of 180 pounds again – bread-bowl pastas.  I suspect they’ll succeed.

11:13 PM – Watching highlights of Celtics-Magic game.  Howard had 23 points and 22 rebounds.  Wow.  After the game, he talked about defense and sounded much happier.  Stan Van Gundy’s ability to regroup would be a lot more interesting but for the fact that all this game did was delay the inevitable LeBron march to the Finals by two days.

11:20 PM – The third quarter begins with another Laker’s one and done, but they get a quick two on a steal by Ariza.

11:22 PM – Ariza hits a three; Houston gets hit with an offensive foul, and Gasol hits a hook.  Lakers cut it to 9.

11:23 PM – Ariza misses a three, but Gasol finally gives the Lakers an offensive rebound.  Kobe gets fouled, will take two shots after the break.

11:27 PM – Kobe hits them both.  Lakers have scored the first nine points of the half – but the Rockets just hit a two.  The lead in nine (54-45).

11:28 PM – Kobe hits a three: Rockets’ lead down to six.

11:30 PM – Missed shots on both sides.  Rockets’ ball.

11:32 PM – Lakers steal it.  Gasol hits a two.  A pair of turnovers.  Scola misses a layup; Byrant draws a foul while shooting with three guys draped on him.  Rockets lead by four with two Kobe free throws.

11:33 PM – Kobe hits both, pulls LA within two.

11:34 PM – Another Rockets turnover.  LA misses a shot but gets the ball back on what looks like a bad call, then turns it over.  Landry (Houston) gets the bucket and one.  Lead is back to five.

11:35 PM – Kobe hits a J, Battier responds.  Still a five-point game.

11:37 PM – LA turnover turns into a Houston three.  Phil calls time.  Rockets up 62-54 and seem to have righted the ship after LA’s 16-2 run to start the half.

11:41 PM – Ouch.  The Boston Bruins just lost Game 7 at home in OT to Carolina.  Given that Carolina used to be the Hartford Whalers, that’s a double-whammy for New England, on top of the Celtics’ Game 6 loss.  Meanwhile, Farmar misses a three, but Houston returns the favor with an offensive foul.

11:42 PM – Brooks commits a hard foul on Kobe (although it looks like Brooks’ momentum in getting back on D was responsible for much of the force).  Kobe hits both free throws.  Lakers down 6.

11:44 PM – JVG: “This must be a tight spot; Phil Jackson is out of his seat!”  I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.  Meanwhile, Scola goes to the bank (it’s open); Kobe responds; Brooks gets a goaltend call on a layup (call was legit); Odom responds.  Still six, two minutes left in third.

11:45 PM – Landry has a nice inverse layup; Farmar responds with a three.  Lead is five.

11:46 PM – Artest and Gasol trade baskets.  Houston up 70-65.

11:47 PM – Brooks goes over Gasol; LA misses a shot; Scola hits a J, and the third quarter ends with Houston ahead 74-65.  Looks like LA will need another run to even this up.

11:50 PM – T-Mobile reruns its best Barkley/D-Wade ad – “Old School.”  I’ve seen it umpteen times and it’s still funny.

11:53 PM – Odom starts the fourth quarter with another defensive rebound.  Gasol scores.  Rockets up 7.

11:54 PM – Landry responds.  Rockets up 76-67.

11:56 PM – Kobe on the bench to start the fourth.  LA’s gets three offensive rebounds before Odom slams it home.  Then Odom blocks Landry, who picks up foul number three tying to get the rebound.  But Farmar can’t hit the shot.

Midnight - Back from the break; they’re interviewing David Stern, my least favorite commissioner.

12:01 AM – Kobe is still on the bench.  Interesting.  Stern is asked for his favorite team, says, “I root for the officials.”  JVG with some good-natured complaining about getting called out by Stern (“I don’t want to do anything to please Jeff van Gundy”).  Artest hits a three at 7:30 left; lead is ten again.

12:03 AM – Gasol scores; Landry responds with a slam.  81-71 Rockets.

12:04 AM – Landry gets fouled by Odom, and it feels like it’s starting to slip away from the Lakers.

12:05 AM – Landry hits one of two.  Odom hits a J.  Margin is nine.

12:o6 AM – Artest misses a three; Odom gets another rebound (what is that, 50?), but LA turns it over.  Time out with Houston up 82-73.

12:07 AM – No, freckle-face, I don’t think he wants whipped cream.

12:09 AM – Apparently Howard was upset he didn’t get the ball at the end of Game 5.  I retract the he-threw-SVG-under-the-bus comment.  He was right; he should have had the ball a lot more at the end of Game 5.

12:10 AM – They’re trading baskets (which is good if your Houston).  Rockets up 84-75 with 3:56 left.

12:16 AM – Needed a Diet Coke to finish this off, which reminds me: Go ahead and tax cola, Mr. President; you’ll lose your young voters faster than New Coke lost market share 25 years ago.  Meanwhile, Brooks hits two jump shots (the last one falling down) to go up 13 with three minutes left.

12:17 AM – At this point, I’m moving Cleveland ahead of LA as the favorites to win the title.  Cleveland plays every night, and takes care of business (they have yet to lose a playoff game, meaning rather than take Game 4 off, they’ve closed the deal).  LA has taken five quarters off – and that’s just in this series.  Still 88-75, Landry to go to the line for Houston, 2:36 left.

12:20 AM – Landry hits one of two; Kobe banks one in.  Margin is 12.

12:21 AM – At 2:09 left, the game is over. Lamar Odom, the only Laker who’s shown effort from the opening tip, has just fouled out.  Brooks hits both free throws; Rockets up 91-77.

12:23 AM – Kobe misses his first free throw of the night; 91-78 with 1:44 left.

12:25 AM – Assuming LA doesn’t hit a few six-point shots (and since they don’t exist, that’s a good bet), Houston will be 2-1 since Yao got hurt.  Impressive.

12:26 AM – Lakers not going into foul-at-will mode.  Guess they’ve thrown in the towel.  They do foul Brooks as he went to shoot.  Two free throws later, it’s 93-78.

12:28 AM – Artest is fouled wth 46.8 seconds left.  TO after he misses the first.

12:30 AM – Artest misses the second one, too.  Lakers get an easy two.

12:31 AM – Wow.  Not only is Yao out, but his would-be back-up (Dekembe Motumbo) was out for the season, too.  They have no center and they’ve won two of three.

12:33 AM – And it’s over.  Houston 95, LA 80.  The Lakers never made it all the way back from being down 1-18.  game 7 is Sunday.  I’m with Mark Jackson: “I am never picking the Lakers again.  I’m picking the Denver Nuggets, and I’m picking whoever (sic, but I may be remembering what he said inaccurately) comes out of the East.”  Me too, Mark, me too.

The GOP: still discredited, still dead in the water . . .

. . . still leading in the Rasmussen poll.

Resident Evil: Stimulus?

The Social Security Administration has spent $25 million – by their own admission – on stimulus checks of $250 each to 10,000 would-be recipients, as in they would need a T-virus rejuvenation to cash them (WBAL-TV, h/t Jim Geraghty):

 Social Security representatives said there is a good explanation. Of the about 52 million checks that have been mailed out, about 10,000 of those have been sent to people who are deceased.

The agency blames the error on the strict mid-June deadline of mailing out all of the checks, which didn’t leave officials much time to clean up all of their records.

Really?  So if the Administration had just waited a little while, the SSA could have cleaned up the recipients list?  Er, not quite (same link, emphasis added):

 83-year-old James Hagner, said he got the surprise when he checked his mailbox late last week . . . His mother, Rose, died on Memorial Day in 1967.

Fear not, though, the SSA is on the case, well, sort of:

Social Security officials said they aren’t expecting to lose too much money to fraud. They’re reminding the public that it’s a federal offense to cash someone else’s Social Security check. 

Something tells me they should start looking for a Plan B.  Can you say Anti-fraud czar Milla Jovovich?

Obama’s health care plan – REVEALED!

Via Jonah Goldberg:

 What you fail to appreciate is that HHS is studying the Logan’s Run Model (LRM) of healthcare reform. Under this approach, expensive healthcare recipients are swung around the ceiling and blown up during a facsimile of a Pink Floyd laser light show. Under LRM the savings are enormous, and the budget will be in balance by the end of the first term.

Of course, Jonah left out the goals for the second term: a massive medical colony on the Dark Side of the Moon.

$1.84 trillion

The above number is the budget deficit for FY09 (US News).  To understand just how astronomical this is, keep a few things in mind . . .

In 1985, total U.S. debt was less than $1.84 trillion (Treasury Direct).

In 2000, the entire federal budget was less than $1.84 trillion.  If “off-budget” spending is included, total outlays in 1995 were less than $1.84 trillion (Office of Management and Budget).

Last year’s record budget deficit was one quarter what this year’s is projected to be (Riley at VV).

Now, the Obama Administration is desperate to claim this is all George W. Bush’s fault, and oddly enough, under normal circumstance, they’d have a point.  Usually, the budget of the first fiscal year of an administration is set by the previous president and Congress (fiscal years run from October to September, thus FY09 began in October of 2008).

Note that I said “usually,” because this time, Congress refused to pass a budget during and after the election campaign.  The government survived on continuing resolutions (Washington-speak for month-to-month spending) because Pelosi, Reid, et al wanted to let Obama write the FY09 budget, which he did.  Of course, one of the bigger impacts on this year’s deficit (but far from the biggest) is the TARP fiasco, which Obama did not implement.  However, he did support it wholeheartedly – in the campaign and on the Senate floor – so he can’t escape responsibility for that one either (had he, the Democratic nominee for President, refused to support it, odds are the Democratic majorities in Congress would have shot it down).

So unlike previous presidents, Obama must accept responsibility for this budget imbalance.  This deficit is on him.