News to make a liberal depressed: Just click on that and note that Rasmussen has the GOP up by 12, Fox News by 9, and CNN by 7. No matter how you slice it, all the polling is indicating continuing and increasing GOP strength headed in to the main campaign season.

How can the Democrats change the dynamic? Well, Obama’s plan is to call for more stimulus spending – ’cause that worked so well and its clearly what all those TEA Party activists really want. And at least Obama has a plan – Congressional Democrats are in hiding and just hoping to hold on to 218 House and 50 Senate seats. As one pundit put it on the radio – the Democrats now have two months to capture bin Laden.

Know what? I don’t think even that would work – I think that the die is cast, and retribution is coming.

From the Wall Street Journal:

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said the planned burning of Qurans on Sept. 11 by a small Florida church could put the lives of American troops in danger and damage the war effort.

Gen. David Petraeus said the Taliban would exploit the demonstration for propaganda purposes, drumming up anger toward the U.S. and making it harder for allied troops to carry out their mission of protecting Afghan civilians…

Which is all very true, I suspect. I also doubt the wisdom, in the largest sense, of burning a book considered holy by some people. I certainly don’t like it when someone desecrates the symbols of Christianity – especially the wild abandon some on the left have about desecrating specifically Catholic things.

And yet, Moslems will burn our flag at the drop of a hat. They’ll desecrate not just the symbols of Christianity, but even a Christian church for no reason at all. Christians are routinely brutalized in Moslem countries for no reason other than the fact they are Christians. There is no insult to my religion and my nation which Moslems won’t engage in – no lie about my government, my President (current or past) or our allies that Moslems won’t spread. Given immense provocation, I still say, no, we won’t utterly destroy Islam. But I’m supposed to ensure that no person in my nation offers any insult – as determined by Moslems – to Islam?

I don’t think so.

I’m tired of this speaking with baited breath as if Moslems are our masters and we are their docile slaves, free only to speak and do as they bid. Love I can give, even to my enemies; respect I can offer, even if they aren’t particularly respectable; tolerance I am all in favor of – but I won’t curb myself or my fellow citizens because Moslems demand it. If the burning of a Koran causes hurt feelings in Islam, then that is just too bad – perhaps it might make some of them think of the hurt feelings (to say the least) among those who have had family members blown to bits, beheaded or otherwise cruelly used by Islamist terrorists, with hardly a peep of protest out of the great masses of the Moslem people.

If anyone is Islam expects me to crawl, they will disappointed. I hope, too, that everyone will stand up and say, enough. It is time for the Moslem world to cease playing the victim, cease winking an eye at the cowardly acts of terrorists and stop blaming the world for problems in the Moslem world which are the sole result of cowardice, greed and apathy among Moslems.

UPDATE: Jonah Goldberg over at NRO’s The Corner takes issue with the actual desire to burn a Koran. He’s 100% correct in the particulars, but like most commentators on this issue, he’s missing the larger point. Why are we seeing people so strongly urging that the parish in Florida not burn a Koran? Because we fear a violent reaction on the part of Moslem people. Fear – even if not acknowledged or fully understood – is what is motivating the condemnations.

I refuse to bow to fear of what some Islamo-fascists might do. I’m no longer even remotely concerned about the tender feelings of the Moslem world – not until a Christian can hold his head up high in the Moslem world will I be concerned about how Moslems feel. Its a two way street – I won’t blow them up; I won’t behead them; I will treat them with respect and if there’s a natural disaster in Islam I’ll be first to advocate aid…but I’m not going to tremble over what they’ll do if offended by the actions of someone in the West. This has to stop, and I mean right now – not some time down the road if Moslems suddenly feel like being nice to us.

UPDATE II: Hartford, CT city council to demonstrate that they are ready, willing and able to be slaves.

Wasn’t the definition of insanity to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result? From the AP:

A combative President Barack Obama rolled out a long-term jobs program Monday that would exceed $50 billion to rebuild roads, railways and runways, and coupled it with a blunt campaign-season assault on Republicans for causing Americans’ hard economic times…

And, Barry, haven’t you figured out by now that rabid attacks on the GOP just are cutting any ice with the American people these days? You tried it with ObamaCare and Cap and Trade, and that backfired…which one of the White House staffers said, “hey, Mr President, just insult them one more time, and all will be well”? That’s the guy you want to fire, by the way.

Another thing – this $50 billion, its for roads and infrastructure, right? Even supposing last bit of stimulus worked, wasn’t it supposed to be for roads and infrastructure? What happened to all the previous money? I’ve seen a “we’re the government and we’re helping you” sign with your brand on it on a road for the past year and not a bit of work being done – did we blow all the cash on the signs? How much did we pay for them? Was the manufacturer a donor?

How about this – do you realize you were elected President of the United States? No, seriously – remember that thing back on January 20th, 2009? President Bush was there. Supreme Court guys? All the crowds cheering you and littering the Mall? That, believe it or not, was when you became President. Yes, of the United States of America. This means you’ve got some responsibility – to do the right thing; to think about things; to not blame others; to not insult the more than half the American people now doubting your worldview.

You might want to consider taking this seriously and not, apparently, as a mere backdrop for the next volume of your best-selling memoirs.

Monumentally stupid – from the Financial Times:

The eurozone debt crisis is about to enter a critical phase as governments prepare to step up borrowing in the capital markets to fund their faltering economies.

Some strategists are warning that some of the weaker economies could fail to raise the amount of money they need as eurozone governments attempt to issue double the amount of debt this month compared with August…

The debt is the problem, and here come the governments of Europe with their “solution”: More Debt! It really can’t get any more through-the-looking-glass than this. These are people – the European elites – who are just blindly stumbling around, clueless as to their peril.

Our problem – a lot of our ruling elites are just as stupid. We simply must make major changes in November.

Fred Bauer over at A Certain Enthusiasm suggests that the West Virginia Senate race might be a good place for the TEA Party to expend some effort:

…While West Virginia hasn’t elected a Republican to the Senate in over 50 years, it is a state that has begun to move toward the Republicans. Even though Manchin is trying to portray himself as a moderate or even conservative Democrat, Republicans could successfully tie him to the national Democratic party (including his backing of Obamacare).

In short, this race could be an uphill battle, but it is definitely winnable for the GOP…

Bauer noted earlier that the most recent polling shows Republican John Raese gaining on Manchin – and, I agree, this is an excellent opportunity for the GOP. And for the whole TEA Party/grassroots/revolutionary effort. Taking Ted’s seat away from the Democrats was the signal for the revolt – taking Byrd’s seat away would be an excellent seal on the changed political battleground.

And, even if we end up losing, by forcing the Democrats to expend money on a seat they thought safe will just make them more vulnerable elsewhere. The edifice begins to crack – everyone attack, everywhere and all the time.

A prayer for workers:

O God, the Creator of all things, You have laid the law of labor upon the human race. Grant, we beseech You, that by the example and protection of St. Joseph we may perform the work You command and attain to the reward that You promise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

On this Labor Day, especially, let us call to mind and offer our prayers for those who labor – and those who are unable to do so because of the difficulties of our economy. God grant that these bad times pass speedily away, and that we all endure them in good cheer and with loving generosity for those who are worst affected.

From the AP:

Days after the U.S. officially ended combat operations and touted Iraq’s ability to defend itself, American troops found themselves battling heavily armed militants assaulting an Iraqi military headquarters in the center of Baghdad on Sunday. The fighting killed 12 people and wounded dozens.

It was the first exchange of fire involving U.S. troops in Baghdad since the Aug. 31 deadline for formally ending the combat mission, and it showed that American troops remaining in the country are still being drawn into the fighting…

Which is almost inevitable now that we’re no longer on a combat mission. The war will not be amenable to liberal conceptions – it will be fought as a war, until one side or the other wins. You don’t just “end” a war.

Obama made a grave error in making a big speech about the supposed end of our combat role. Our combat roll ends when the last American soldier leaves – until then, the combat goes on. The speech should have been saved to welcome the last troops home – which probably could be accomplished fairly swiftly, except that now our actions have encouraged the enemy and caused a bit of political drift in Iraq as they are unsure of their position.

The President must start to understand that our goal is not to end the fighting, as a thing. Our goal is to win – President Bush understood this and thus we were able to crush the Islamist insurgency. Now the remnants of that are trying to re-start, hoping that our draw down and the clear desire to be done with it on the part of Obama have given them a chance to re-establish their presence. A firm declaration that we are, as we were before, committed to victory will be the best means of heartening our allies in Iraq and discouraging our enemies.

Let’s hope Obama sees the light here.

Humility is an important virtue:

Who can know God’s counsel,

or who can conceive what the LORD intends?

For the deliberations of mortals are timid,

and unsure are our plans.

For the corruptible body burdens the soul

and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.

And scarce do we guess the things on earth,

and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty;

but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?

Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom

and sent your holy spirit from on high?

And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.- Wisdom, 9:13-18b

Keep that in mind in all things – and remember that if you suddenly come up with the brilliant plan which saves the day, it was because God gave it to you, you listened and acted.

The Israeli ambassador to the United States claims Hezbollah has 15,000 rockets in Lebanon. As the Israelis and Palestinians start talking peace, remember that Israel does so knowing that at any moment, death can rain down from the skies on them.

Poll: People, on the whole, prefer a GOP new-comer to any other type of politician, including over GOP incumbents. What have I been saying all year? People are rejecting the establishment: the Ruling Class. The GOP will do very well November 2nd, but a good deal of this is just having more outsiders running than party-in-power Democrats. If the GOP doesn’t make good on the peoples’ desires, then there will be a huge price to be paid (H/T: Mish’s)

Analysis: GOP will clean up in governorships, too. This is very important with redistricting upcoming. Could mean another dozen or so GOP seats in 2012 – and untold numbers at the State level.

Religion in the modern world – very funny, but my goodness it is as bad as all that, now isn’t it?

A bit of analysis on why liberals hate.

Iowahawk: Barack, can we talk?

Tyler Durden over at Zero Hedge notes an interesting fact and draws the logical conclusion:

One of the most peculiar observations of this depression (which) started in December 2007 is that while the total US population has increased by 6.8 million from 303.3 million to just over 310 million in July 2010, over the same 32 month period, the civilian labor force has declined from 153.9 million to 153.6 million…

…the cumulative differential between the labor force as reported, and as calculated has hit an all time record of 3.7 million: this is a number that has to be added to the 7.6 million directly tabulated unemployed to get a sense of just how many jobs have been lost assuming a reversion to the mean for the US economy. In other words, after eliminating the statistical voodoo of the BEA and the Census Bureau, the US has lost just over 11.2 million jobs since the start of the recession…

Which, in turn, means that the job “growth” Obama and Co have been crowing about is really non-existent. Even the BLS report this past Friday that 67,000 private sector jobs were created is just so much fluff – its really just a made up number; an estimate. And its piled on top of other estimates and suppositions and, presto!, we get official government numbers which are increasingly worthless in determining what is going on. Much better, than, to look at hard data – how many people are living here; how many are working; how many used to work here. Taking a look at that and you get a very grim picture.

This is why on the economy the roof is caving in on the Democrats. They can give us all the “recovery summer” propaganda they want and their allies in the MSM can tell us over and over again that things are getting better, but the people know better. I know better – I can see economic catastrophe all around me, as I drive around town. I’m sure any of us can say the same thing.

We can get out of this. Not without pain and not without hard work and sacrifice – but we can get out of this. Unfortunately, standing right in our path to recovery is Obama and his Democrats and their allegiance to worn out, failed Keynesian economic theory…

Desperation:

As Democrats brace for a November wave that threatens their control of the House, party leaders are preparing a brutal triage of their own members in hopes of saving enough seats to keep a slim grip on the majority.

In the next two weeks, Democratic leaders will review new polls and other data that show whether vulnerable incumbents have a path to victory. If not, the party is poised to redirect money to concentrate on trying to protect up to two dozen lawmakers who appear to be in the strongest position to fend off their challengers…

This is a clear indicator that the Democrat leadership has got their own polls and they see the writing on the wall – a last ditch, desperate attempt is going to be made to save 218 House seats. This is also both logical and pointless – by pulling the plug on what are perceived to be lost causes, all the Democrats will end up doing is freeing up funds for the GOP to more strongly challenge less vulnerable Democrats.

I love smell of Democrats melting down in the morning. It smells like…victory!