Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Some Context on Those Poll Numbers. How many times have we seen headlines like this one, from UPI this morning: "Iraq war drags Bush to record poll low." So many "record lows" have been announced in President Bush's poll numbers that the casual headline-watcher could be excused for thinking that no President in history has ever been so reviled. As we noted here, however, Bush's poll numbers are typical for just about any president at his low ebb. Bush, according to UPI, is currently at 33 percent. Here are the low water marks for presidents from Lyndon Johnson through Bill Clinton: *Johnson: 35% *Nixon: 24% *Ford: 37% *Carter: 28% *Reagan: 35% *Bush I: 29% *Clinton: 37% Contrary to what you might surmise from screaming newspaper headlines, every president from Johnson to the present has gone through a period when his poll numbers were around where Bush's are now; in several instances, lower. So maybe it's time to ease off on the poll hysteria and get back to talking about the substantive pros and cons of the president's policies. [Power Line] 4:40:26 PM    comment [] trackback []

Justin Gatlin Can Do It If Anyone Can Gatlin stripped of 100-m record.  Dang.  I hate when that happens.     But Pensacola's own Justin Gatlin can and will do it, now that he knows what a piece of cake the current record is.   Justin Gatlin equaled but did not break the 100-meter world record at the Qatar Grand Prix last week, the sport's governing body said today. [PensacolaNewsJournal.com - Local News] 4:19:04 PM    comment [] trackback []

Why Are College Professors Afraid of Dr. Condoleezza Rice? Project 21 Senior Fellow Deneen Moore wonders why liberal college professors seem so afraid of Dr. Condoleezza Rice: Ideally, college professors should provide an open environment for the free exchange of ideas... on some college campuses, these ideals aren't applied to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice because she is an accomplished black female conservative. Instead, protests, petitions and prejudice are the faculty-led antics designed to demean and silence her. Observe, for example, the recent circumstances concerning Dr. Rice and Boston College. Considering her significant accomplishments, one would think that having the Secretary of State speak at their commencement ceremony would be a privilege and an honor for the Boston College community, especially since Dr. Rice addresses only one commencement annually. To the contrary, hundreds of students are supporting the efforts of faculty members who not only oppose Dr. Rice addressing Boston College's Class of 2006 but also oppose the decision by College officials to award her an Honorary Doctor of Law degree. To-date, about 200 of the 1,000 faculty members have signed a petition designed to prevent Dr. Rice from speaking. A student petition demanding the invitation be rescinded has also been circulated throughout the campus... Dr. Condoleezza Rice is one of the finest examples of a leader for people of all races, colors and creeds... One must ask just what these liberal professors so afraid of and why are they so ardently trying to prevent Dr. Rice from addressing Boston College's Class of 2006. Are they afraid that Dr. Rice will, in one afternoon, undo the years of brainwashing the students have endured at Boston College? Are they afraid that Dr. Rice will talk about the benefits of a free market society versus statism? Are they afraid that Dr. Rice will talk about the triumphs of liberty over oppression and how Boston College's Class of 2006 can go into the world of opportunities with a plan by using their brain to think, and be independent, successful, responsible citizens? Be afraid, liberal Boston College professors. Be very afraid. - Amy Ridenour [Amy Ridenour's National Center Blog] 4:12:15 PM    comment [] trackback []

Sessions Amendment Passes. Senator Jeff Sessions' amendment to the Senate's immigration bill, which requires the construction of a fence and erection of vehicle barriers, passed the Senate this afternoon. The Associated Press' report conveys a sense of the passions that were generated by the floor debate. The vote wasn't close, however; the Sessions amendment passed 83-16. Which means that even most Democrats have figured out how serious Americans are on the issue of border security. The Senate has moved on to debate an amendment that would strip the "path to citizenship" and guest worker provisions out of the current bill. Via Power Line News. [Power Line] 4:03:48 PM    comment [] trackback []

French Out-Frenching Themselves The French, once again, are out-Frenching even themselves.  This time by naming a street after a convicted cop killer. Behaviors that go beyond normal, beyond simply not being on board with taking military action against Saddam, but to do whatever it can do to stick a finger in the eye of the United States, is what I call 'Frenching.'  France is the reference point and origin of the term.  For example, being against any sort of military action against Iraq in the UN Security Council because Saddam has bought and paid for your opposition via the oil for food program, that is Frenching. Sending your diplomats around the world to actively advocate against the United States and 40 some other countries, that is Frenching. Now, and in a much more personal manner, they name a street after the killer responsible for the fatal shooting of a Philadelphia cop.  This takes Frenching to a new low. Paris suburb names street for cop-killer Abu-Jamal . As Philadelphians cope with another police slaying, news comes that a suburb of Paris has named a street for Mumia Abu-Jamal, convicted of the 1981 murder of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner. Post a Comment [Front Page -- Philadelphia Inquirer] 12:40:20 AM    comment [] trackback []

© Copyright 2006 Ross Calloway. Last update: 6/1/2006; 12:58:19 AM.