en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/3870749 Comments by Mazeld http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/30/the-mendacious-mr-obama/#IDComment742157333 Wow. This just about sums up our president. It would be interesting to ponder if perhaps Mr. Obama sharpened his "deception skills" by his attendance at Columbia and Harvard. Could it be that Mr. Obama was accepted to schools beyond his intellectual gifts and as a survival mechanism he learned to shape reality to his own ends? Perhaps he learned at the Ivy league how to rhetorically manipulate his peers and teachers for his own academic survival. There's no way to know if that's true but one wonders if affirmative action, in an oblique way, bears some responsibility for president's pathology. Wed, 30 Oct 2013 14:39:54 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/30/the-mendacious-mr-obama/#IDComment742157333 http://dc-web1.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/28/just-dont-tell-the-president/#IDComment741379407 This is so cute, it's almost like a Dr. Seuss poem. Bravo! Mon, 28 Oct 2013 20:31:54 +0000 http://dc-web1.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/28/just-dont-tell-the-president/#IDComment741379407 http://dc-web1.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/28/just-dont-tell-the-president/#IDComment741309972 "At what point does Obama think it becomes necessary for him to admit that, yes, he’s the president?" An excellent question! The truth is that Mr. Obama knows he's the president and he's taking his position quite seriously. He golfs, goes to Camp David, makes political trips across the country and across the world, engages in politics, and has a wonderful time. He's in full swing with all the tapestries of the office. And if you still don't believe it, note how many times he says the word "I" when speaking about presidential activities. Unfortunately for our president, there is more to the office and the job than the perks and trips. There is real responsibility and real work to do. There is oversight of the executive branch, relations with congress, relations with world leaders, and the constant need for U.S. attention to our interests for political and security concerns. Our president is not so interested in these aspects of the job. He is pulling out of Afghanistan, has left Iraq, seeks appeasement with Iran, gave Russia in roads to Egypt, left the drug war to Mexican cartels and gangs, and, even when his name is attached to the program, left ObamaCare to flounder and fail rather than show responsibility and leadership for his signature program. All because he's a president more interested in perks than the works of the office. The problem is not that Mr. Obama does not think he's president. The problem is that he has no desire to take the job seriously. That, by the way, is the tragedy of Barack Obama, our president. Mon, 28 Oct 2013 16:57:30 +0000 http://dc-web1.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/28/just-dont-tell-the-president/#IDComment741309972 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/23/obamacares-self-sabotage/#IDComment739281441 So, let's get this straight: The websites are slow and next to impossible to use. If, however, a person manages to get through to log in and purchase the product, he may, with high probability, find that the information insurers have is corrupt. Thus, when a person really needs the insurance, he may find that he is not covered because of errors in the insurance data. Or his costs are wrong, et cetera. Talk about getting it coming and going. Once you manage to sign up, if you can, you find out your personal data are wrong. Can you imagine the nightmare it will be for people to correct the wrong data? Not to mention the logistics and personnel required. And don't forget that people make errors, too. Good grief. Wed, 23 Oct 2013 21:27:13 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/23/obamacares-self-sabotage/#IDComment739281441 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/23/is-it-wrong-to-root-for-obamacare-to-fail/#IDComment739230812 Once again the problem for republicans is how they are perceived. Right now republicans appear as the party of "No." No to ObamaCare. No to an increase in the federal debt. No to this and that. While saying no maybe the best course of action to limit government, it is not a slogan to win elections nor to win the populace to your way of thinking. Rather, republicans need to companion their own programs. As Jonathan points out, Ryan has a plan. Why are the republicans not talking about it? Why don't we hear more of what republicans want to do to help our nation with health care costs? That is something everyone cares about. Just saying that ObamaCare is bad only tells a negative; people want to hear a positive. They want to hear what republicans will do and how republicans will help them. It's not wrong to oppose ObamaCare and, quite frankly, it's not even wrong to oppose a war. But if you want to win elections, if you want to convince citizens to vote for your party, you need to give a positive message with a plan for definitive actions that will help the nation. "Just say no" was Nancy Reagan's slogan for drug abusers. It didn't work to stem drug use then, it won't work to stop ObamaCare now. Wed, 23 Oct 2013 18:43:58 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/23/is-it-wrong-to-root-for-obamacare-to-fail/#IDComment739230812 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/22/obamas-plea-for-irrelevance/#IDComment738774816 What is the essence of Mr. Obama? It is his political instincts. He beat Hillary Clinton in 2008 and then beat John McCain to become president. These are not small accomplishments. He beat Romney in 2012 when many thought he'd lose. That is where his talents lie. So when it comes to ObamaCare the essence of the program is not a web site, it is not a law, and it is not health care for the nation. It is politics. So when the site was not ready to go, the question was not about technical performance; it was whether the site was good enough for political use. After all, if the issue was purely technical, the president would have agreed to a year delay which would have given his administration time to fix the problems. Rather, the president knows that any delay will only lead to the eventual defeat of his signature achievement as president (what else, by the way, does he have?). So, of course, we have a non-functioning website. It's not about the site, not about health care. It's all about politics and democrats who can claim some sort of health care law. On that point Mr. Obama scored. The nation has a non-functioning system, but we have a system. And once the system is in place, it can be continually modified, changed, and updated; but not so easily terminated. The program is here. The political achieved. As anyone in procurement will tell you, once a government system is in place, it is extremely hard to kill. On that score, Mr. Obama won. Tue, 22 Oct 2013 18:09:45 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/22/obamas-plea-for-irrelevance/#IDComment738774816 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/21/dick-cheney-behind-the-music/#IDComment738700253 That's pretty hilarious, thanks for the video. I hope the evening was as big a success as the video humor. Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:45:55 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/21/dick-cheney-behind-the-music/#IDComment738700253 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/18/sequestration-isnt-a-gop-achievement-panetta/#IDComment736726712 Sequestration is not the problem because Congress always has the ability to add funding to the Pentagon and thereby allow our military to train and prepare for war as it needs to do. The problem is that our representatives, senators, and president, have little use for the military and all too happy to see it decline. To blame sequestration, as bad and arbitrary as it is, is to miss the big picture. The reality is that Americans (overall, I'm sorry to say) are none too keen to support our troops and would rather let the world disintegrate than pay for our military. Moreover, it's equally clear that when the choice is entitlements versus military the military loses. It's been losing for decades if you watch the budgets. Of course, as Max notes, this is horrible for the country and it will be worse for our friends who depend on American might for protection against hostile countries and other threats. Nonetheless, this is where we are. Here's a question to Max and Commentary readers: If we had compulsory service as, for example, Israel does, would we see Americans more supportive of our military? Might people want the best for our men and women when they and their children are serving the country? Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:02:07 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/18/sequestration-isnt-a-gop-achievement-panetta/#IDComment736726712 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/02/why-harry-reid-lost-his-temper/#IDComment728703202 This excerpt from Mr. Reid is classic: "What right did they have to pick and choose what part of government is going to be funded?" (Which, by the way, Congress has every right to decide what it will and will not fund.) The follow-up is: What right does the president have to choose which part of a law he will enforce and which part he won't? And, speaking of ObamaCare, what right does the president have to exclude parts as it suits him and not enforce the entire law? The hypocrisy is astounding. Wed, 2 Oct 2013 22:15:51 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/02/why-harry-reid-lost-his-temper/#IDComment728703202 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/09/24/rouhani-fever-at-the-un/#IDComment724854354 Max is missing a most important point: time. Everything Max notes the U.S. must obtain has to come with a time table does not allow the Iranians to delay and continue their nuclear work. The real issue with this "new" diplomatic effort is that it gives Iran cover to continue their nuclear work and delay any possible strike. The U.S. would do well to heed the advice of magicians who deploy misdirection: If a magician tells you to look in one place, you can be certain the magic is happening elsewhere. Let us be careful not to become distracted and only too late realize we have been deceived. Tue, 24 Sep 2013 17:24:25 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/09/24/rouhani-fever-at-the-un/#IDComment724854354 http://dc-web1.commentarymagazine.com/2013/07/29/lessons-from-korea/#IDComment689592996 You could almost substitute "Israel" for "South Korea" and "any Arab country or the PA" for "North Korea" and this post would still make sense. It goes to show the nature of a liberal democracy versus dictatorship and totalitarianism today. Mon, 29 Jul 2013 14:04:28 +0000 http://dc-web1.commentarymagazine.com/2013/07/29/lessons-from-korea/#IDComment689592996 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/07/19/the-gops-deep-hole-immigration-tea-party/#IDComment683261239 So, Mr. Wehner is despondent and sees his fellow republicans as down on the GOP. Welcome to reality. If one thinks the problems are the current issues of the day, then he is missing the larger picture. As Mr. Wehner correctly notes: you can't win the arguments with facts. Why?Because voters are in despair and facts don't matter. It is people's feelings and emotions that are in play, not their intellect. Those are changed not by facts but by better feelings and better times. What republicans lack is a great leader, a great man or woman who can rally them to conservative policies and beat back the ever-present, often wrong, liberals who use the media as their megaphone. What do we have today? Paul Ryan? A good man but a mediocre leader. Eric Cantor? A good guy who may become a good leader but for now we hardly know him. Lynn Cheney? Perhaps in time but she's more famous for her father than for anything she's done on her own. John Boehner, speaker of the house? The question answers itself. Ted Cruz, or Marco Rubio? Maybe but can anyone see either as a national candidate today? No. Republicans are missing leadership. Charismatic, competent, sparkling, and handsome leadership. We have talkers (Sarah Palin comes to mind) and we have pundits (Mr. Wehner comes to mind) but republicans lack leadership. Once republicans find a hero, a voice to rally the electorate, a person voters can follow on issues of the day, then we will see a sea-change in attitudes. Until then, well, Mr. Wehner's findings will continue to hold true. Fri, 19 Jul 2013 20:23:57 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/07/19/the-gops-deep-hole-immigration-tea-party/#IDComment683261239 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/06/12/in-praise-of-brookss-conservative-vision/#IDComment660096045 What David Brooks has written is the social construct for society and people in general. When people band together, whether on the basis of nationality, religion, or simply to make a club of like interests, they begin by establishing rules. It is those rules that govern how the people within the group will behave and how they will discipline themselves. Every family, school, religion, country, etc. does this. It is not only natural, it is what makes people unified for their cause, whatever that might be. It's not an idea limited to a particular way of thinking but is what any well-adjusted person expects from a group of people. Liberals and conservatives alike should see what Brooks wrote as applicable to themselves and applicable to other groups beyond themselves. For society to function, there has to be rules and structure. It's not conservative or liberal idea, it is how homo sapiens behave. (And, by the way, other animals behave similarly so the idea extends well-beyond people.) Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:50:48 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/06/12/in-praise-of-brookss-conservative-vision/#IDComment660096045 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/06/07/rachel-abrams-1951-2013/#IDComment657258888 With sincere condolences on your loss; may her memory be a blessing to you and your family. May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Fri, 7 Jun 2013 23:41:32 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/06/07/rachel-abrams-1951-2013/#IDComment657258888 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/06/06/nsa-data-collection-is-legal-and-smart/#IDComment656562283 The problem with government snooping on private conversations is false alarms. Sure, we're all delighted with the government stops a planned terrorist attack. That's good detective work and we are safer for it. But, when the government is recording and analyzing data (be it telephone calls, emails, tweets, etc.) then there is a great chance for false alarms. A false alarm is when the government (or any entity) sees a threat when there really isn't one there. False alarms can happen by a misunderstanding of the data, a missed nuance, or simply seeing a statement in the wrong context. Given the amount of data, the lack of clear guidelines and rules (as is evident by current events), and the propensity for government institutions to make mistakes, there will be lots of false alarms. When these occur, the unjustly accused will have little recourse given that he/she is up against the massive bureaucracy that the government simply is. Citizens will have to fight and that is extremely expensive for them both financially and for their reputations, families, and jobs. For the government any fight or prosecution is all part of their work; they don't care about costs, financial and otherwise. So while it may seem like a good idea to have the government snooping around, there is a price that innocent citizens will have to pay for that snooping. Is that price worth it? We will find out soon enough. Thu, 6 Jun 2013 16:20:04 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/06/06/nsa-data-collection-is-legal-and-smart/#IDComment656562283 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/05/31/holder-should-resign-but-obama-is-the-problem/#IDComment653501474 This is a most insightful observation. And yes, this is a great country! Fri, 31 May 2013 19:50:51 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/05/31/holder-should-resign-but-obama-is-the-problem/#IDComment653501474 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/05/28/our-ambivalent-commander-in-chief-terror-barack-obama-speech/#IDComment651634769 Mr. Boot has managed to reflect the ambivalence of Mr. Obama with his own ambivalent discussion. A joy to read---a disaster for public policy. Mr. Boot does an admirable job of showing how people can read Mr. Obama's words and come away with different conclusions. That is, as Mr. Boot weakly notes, "disquieting." The truth is that no super power, least of all the United States, should be so vague in its foreign policy. What we have now is a muddled policy that tells nations and ourselves that America has no clear course moving forward. America, for all its might, is a confused nation with a leader unable to clearly see threats and, even more, completely indecisive on how to respond to hostile actions that harm our interests, our citizens, our diplomats, and our allies. Mr. Obama has articulated a policy of ambiguity so that nations, terrorists, and allies, can only guess at our intentions and can only roll dice to predict our responses. We are a nation in paralysis. It need not be so. America is not weak and we are not helpless. Yes, we cannot cure the world of all her ills. Yes, we cannot prevent every possible terrorist attack. But we can cure many of the world's ills (witness America's great boon in energy, our nation's technology, etc.). We can prevent many potential terrorists attacks and, when an attack does succeed, we can hunt down the evil-doers with a vengeance few nations can match. Mr. Obama would do well to be clear with the world that the United States stands ready to protect our interests, protect our citizens, and protect our friends. That he did not do so tells our citizens: you are on your own when you leave these shores. It tells our friends: America is with you in words but not in war. It tells our adversaries: you have but to call our bluff and we will fold. Our times demand clear, strong leadership. Ambivalence is the last thing the world needs and it should have never been something for our great nation to spout as policy. Tue, 28 May 2013 15:59:21 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/05/28/our-ambivalent-commander-in-chief-terror-barack-obama-speech/#IDComment651634769 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/05/08/the-u-s-armys-readiness-crisis/#IDComment638069200 While it is heresy to say this to Mr. Boot, the military is much like other bureaucracies. Yes, they fight wars, protect our nation, and do our country's bidding in far off lands so that our citizens sleep soundly and peacefully at night. They give their lives for the rest of us. All true. But there is another side to the military. That other side is the face of bureaucrats and generals who are always seeking new funding, new programs, new areas for spending. One wonders how much of what General Odierno says is based on real budgetary problems and how much is simple posturing to get more money. The pentagon budget is huge (not as big as entitlements though) so it is difficult for laymen to know just what is a real shortage of training dollars, say, and what is a self-made shortage to garner more funding. Mr. Boot: It would be a service to your readers for you to address that question based on unbiased and disinterested observers. Wed, 8 May 2013 20:19:24 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/05/08/the-u-s-armys-readiness-crisis/#IDComment638069200 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/05/08/conservatism-and-the-limitations-of-self-reliance/#IDComment637874812 With this post, Mr. Wehner touches a topic too often ignored and neglected: The role of individuals in our larger society. As he notes, conservatives believe in the rights of individuals and in self-reliance. But a further expression of our self-reliance is our support and faith in our families, our social institutions, churches, synagogues, boy scouts, girl scouts, etc. It is because conservatives shy from government imposed institutions that we turn and support our local and non-government communities. We seek, say, religious institutions for social support precisely because we know that any government support will encroach on our liberty and individual rights. While Mr. Wehner is correct that this aspect of conservatives has not been well publicized, it is nonetheless true that conservatives are tremendous supporters and active participants in our communities. Recent studies (and I don't have the links, sorry) show that conservatives, for example, are more likely to donate blood. (I gave a pint just yesterday.) And to follow Mr. Wehner's idea, it is these institutions that continue beyond the individual. It is our local churches that are here for us at birth, through our lives, and then they bury us with family and friends in attendance. Our synagogues are there for us each and every week, through our life cycle events and for daily support. And because these organizations are here now for us, we owe it to them to support them and help with their governance and continuity. Whether that is through donations, personal attendance, or direct volunteers in programming and lay oversight, it is our involvement that connects us to them and thereby to our past and to our future. I do not buy the argument that conservatives are not doing this. We are. We just don't get any credit for it. "It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it" (2:21) Ethics of Our Fathers Wed, 8 May 2013 15:19:08 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/05/08/conservatism-and-the-limitations-of-self-reliance/#IDComment637874812 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/05/06/the-2012-election-is-over-the-benghazi-scandal-is-not/#IDComment636436574 Whoever thinks this scandal is not over, not yesterday's news, not "a long time ago" (I believe is how Mr. Carney put it), and "who cares" (as Mrs. Clinton put it), is day dreaming. Sorry, Mr. Wehner. No matter how corrupt this administration maybe, no matter how many lies Mr. Obama and his aides may have uttered, the press will not cover this story. Sure, there will be comments here and articles at other conservative sites, maybe a story once in a while on television (Fox News?) but that's it. Mr. Obama is a the wonder child of our nation's media and no one in that media will attack him. Mrs. Clinton is a darling of the media as well; you can expect the media to treat her accordingly. There may be a House investigation, and maybe we'll learn something new, but not much else. If you don't believe this, ask yourself: Bill Clinton perjured himself---there was incontrovertible evidence of his lies. What happened? Nothing. He served out his term, his wife was a senator, now past Secretary of State, and he even just addressed the Democratic national convention last year. Democrats love the guy! Just love him. Until the media sees fit to do its duty, our nation is doomed to be swindled and lied to by those favored politicians who are not held accountable. So, the question is: What can honest (not even conservative, but simply honest) citizen do about this situation? Mon, 6 May 2013 20:35:52 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/05/06/the-2012-election-is-over-the-benghazi-scandal-is-not/#IDComment636436574