If you can watch this video (warning, graphic) and say we should still engage the mullahs and not take sides…then you are lacking all sense of love for your fellow human beings.

UPDATE: Could it be that Obama is going soft on the mullahs because he doesn’t want to risk nuclear negotiations? Probably – so, in order to secure a nuclear deal the mullahs won’t honor, we are going to throw our honor into the sewer and leave the Iranian people to their fate. Makes me sick.

UPDATE II: Gay Patriot notes that we can – and should – be unified on this issue:

On Friday night in synagogue, I approached a left-of-center friend of mine, like me, wearing a green shirt. I asked if she were wearing that color “for the right reason.” Indeed, she was, replying that this was one issue, like Darfur, where conservatives and liberals were in agreement.

While I would dare say there are few more such issues, I was delighted that she and I agreed on this one. She is a good person who actually listens to me when I explain my positions on various social and political issues. I can only hope that I have shown as much respect for her views as she has for mine.

UPDATE III: As events unfold in Iran, I have to ask – does President Obama consider, even for a moment, what he’d do if it were his older daughter shot down by inhuman thugs? I know, that’s harsh – but we have to be. We can no longer afford the niceties, nor can we pretend we don’t understand what is really at stake. A society which cannot protect young, innocent girls is not a society worthy of survival. The question to ask ourselves is not, “what if we end up making it worse?” but, instead, “is there anything actually worse than a fine, young lady being butchered on the street?”. There’s nothing we can do regarding Iran which will make a situation worse than what there already is and anything we do may very well make it much better. So, let’s do it. Let’s roll, in the words of an American hero.

There is much we can do without taking a direct hand – we can blow up Iran’s sole oil refinery, thus cutting off Iran’s government from the gasoline necessary to move their gangs of thugs around the country; we can intercept, on the quiet, Iranian oil shipments, thus cutting off the money Iran’s government needs to pay the gangs of thugs; we can hamper at a thousand points Iran’s ability to oppress its own people…and anyone out there who says that American action will cause the Iranian people to rally to their inhuman regime are just being absurd “oh, ok, since Americans are willing to help me, I’m going to join up with those who murdered my daughter in cold blood”…that is what you have to believe the Iranian people will do, if you really think that American action will give support to Iran’s government.

Fight and fight and then fight some more – we must become, in a large sense, knights who will do battle with injustice and evil regardless of the risk to ourselves.

More and more, it just seems that Obama’s the good looking guy who can read the teleprompter best:

After President Obama’s big speech on health care, I was among the first to note that I couldn’t see how he could possibly keep his promises. Now, according to the Associated Press, the White House has backed off Obama’s promises made just last Monday…

…Here is Mike Gonzalez at Heritage on Friday:

Less than 24 hours after Heritage Foundation President Ed Feulner questioned the veracity of President Obama’s persistent claim that, under his health care proposals, “if you like your insurance package you can keep it”, the White House has begun to walk the President’s claim back. Turns out he didn’t really mean it.

According to the Associated Press, “White House officials suggest the president’s rhetoric shouldn’t be taken literally: What Obama really means is that government isn’t about to barge in and force people to change insurance.” How’s that for change you can believe in?

I’m sorry, but it seems to me that “White House officials suggest the president’s rhetoric shouldn’t be taken literally” means, “look, we just have Obama to say things really well to gull the fools, but we’re going to do whatever the heck we want, instead”. Quite honestly, I don’t know how we can rely on any Presidential statement – we’ll never know if it was given to Obama as window dressing or if its the real policy he’s being told to advance. Who did we elect President?

Memo to Obama and Co:

I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts. – Abraham Lincoln

Victor Davis Hanson reviews the first six months and what we’ve learned.

This one is required reading for anyone who wants to have a serious opinion on Obama.

ROFL over at Iowahawk.

Have at it, good people. I’ll be in later to write something.

What to do about those who state there is no absolute right or wrong:

If he really does think there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, sir, when he leaves our house let us count our spoons – Samuel Johnson

One:

A Pagan group in Britain has accused a Catholic social club of religious discrimination for refusing to host a Pagan group’s Annual Witches’ Ball on the grounds it was ‘not compatible with the Catholic ethos.’

Sandra Davis, 61, a High Priestess of the Pagan group, initially had reserved Our Lady’s Social Club in Stockport, Manchester for her group’s Annual Witches Ball. When she called to make payment arrangements, she was told the event could not be held there and must find another venue. She told the Daily Telegraph she was “appalled” and said her congregation was “shocked” that there can be such “religious discrimination.”

“We’re normal people who follow an earth-based religion and want to enjoy ourselves.

“We thought we were bridging the gap with other religions but misconceptions still exist, like we sacrifice animals.

“Does the church check everyone’s beliefs before allowing them in the club?” she asked.

Fr. John Joyce from the Diocese of Shrewsbury explained to the Daily Telegraph why the event could not proceed at the Catholic club.

“Parish centers under our auspices let their premises on the understanding users and their organizations are compatible with the ethos and teachings of the Catholic Church,” he said.

“In this instance, we aren’t satisfied such requirements are met.”

Two:

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the news that the Education Committee of the New York City Council has approved two new Muslim holidays, Eid Ul-Fitr and Eid Ul-Adha, to be added to the school calendar:

“On January 14, I testified before this very same committee requesting equal rights for Catholics: Jewish and Islamic religious symbols are displayed in the schools every December, but Christian symbols are banned.

“With the exception of Councilman Tony Avella, and a few others, the Education Committee showed no interest in appeasing Catholics.

“But its members are apparently capable of demonstrating great sensitivity to Muslims.

“Speaker Christine Quinn, who was raised Catholic—and who has shown no interest in the push for parity that the Catholic League wants—is now urging all City Councilmen to vote for this new round of Muslim rights.

“What’s at work is the politics of multiculturalism: tolerance for some, intolerance for others. But this fight isn’t over yet.”

If we don’t allow representatives of the Enemy to use our property, we’re discriminating. If we’re refused access to someone else’s property, we’re not being discriminated against. Boiled down: Whatever offends Christians must be allowed, whatever shows tolerance for Christians must be banned. This is the trend of things, and why we Christians insist there is a war upon our faith – certain people (including the odd alliance of political leftists and Moslem extremists) want us out of the public square and unable to even retreat to private places for our own defense. Essentially, we aren’t wanted at all and the sooner we’re destroyed, the better our enemies will like it.

Well, sorry to say, the gates of Hell will not prevail – so, you who want us gone may as well just give up. I know you won’t, but you are wasting your time, and putting yourselves at exceptional long term risk.

Ed. Note: This was among the papers of George Childs Noonan, Jr. upon his death and was written by his father, George Childs Noonan, Sr., at a date uncertain. Given the sort of paper it is typed upon and the sort of print, it was probably written some time prior to 1970. It is incomplete, comprising 17 type-written pages. Whether there ever was anything else to this biographical essay is unknown.

Part I may be read here.

Before moving on, let me relate a thing that happened to me. A thing, I think, that could happen only in Hollywood in the picture business.

On the surface it is pretty hard sometimes to tell a no-talent from the real McCoy and so I was able to fast-talk myself into a job on the writing staff of the Hal Roach studio. They had several units, Laurel and Hardy, Our Gang, All Star etc. continuously in production making two reel comedies and it was the job of the writing staff to come up with stories and gags for them. They hired me on at the minimum salary of $500 a month. It took them about four months to find out that I was a no-talent, whereupon they let me go.

Here’s the thing: Shortly after being canned from the Roach studio, a fellow came up to me in the lobby of the Christie hotel, “you’re Georgie O’Neil who worked on the Roach lot?”. “That’s right”. “Well, I’m Jack Adolphi and I have a package contract to write and direct a series of comedies over at the Educational studio – if you’ll help me put together a couple of quickies I’ll get you on the payroll as my assistant”. We went up to my room and hashed it out. Adolphi thanked me for my contribution and promised to call me in a couple of days.

Weeks went by and no word from Adolphi. I figured he tried but was unable to deliver on my behalf. I understood – some exec’s son-in-law was given the job, par for the course in Hollywood. Then one day I got a call out of the blue. It was from Ivan Kahn, the actors agent, “DeMille studio has been calling all over town for you”.

I hustled out to the studio and was greeted like I was a big shot and in hushed confidence, “the picture stinks. It needs some laughs to save it – see what you can do – they are shooting some war scenes down on the back lot – don’t crack to anyone – just sit around and observe and catch the rushes for a couple days and we’ll get together later”.

Before the end of the week a messenger from the front office came to the set to escort me to the front office, “Georgie, what’s your salary – what did they pay you at Roach?”. “Five hundred”, I replied. “O.K., then, $500 it is”. When my pay check was delivered to me at the end of the week it was for $500 – I was on the payroll for $500 per week, not $500 a month!

What happened was this: DeMille studio had a sick picture on its hands and needed a gag man to help doctor it up, a writer expert in comedy construction. They did the natural thing in calling a comedy lot to recommend someone. They called Educational studio and Jack Adolphi just happened to be in his office – he gave me a big buildup as a Hal Roach staff writer and for the work I had done for him. At $500 per week I was able to bluff it through long enough to end up with enough loot to get married and go on a honeymoon – first cabin.

Next Week – Part III

Side Note: Two of George Childs Noonan, Sr’s sisters were Hollywood actresses:

Molly O’Day

Sally O’Neil

Not enough, but at least better than the mewling poltroonery thus far:

Obama directly addresses the Iranian government for the first time after a day of violence in Iran:

The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.

Now, Mr. President, get in touch with those Iranian security forces which might be willing to flip and take the side of the Iranian people – do it, and do it now.