I mean, other than Governing for Dummies? Ann Althouse notes the list of books Obama is supposedly reading this summer. This may or may not be a true list – more than likely, given the emphasis of image over substance in the Obama Administration, its just a list of a few books his PR people thought he should appear to read (I really can’t imagine Obama really reading a bio of John Adams – I could be wrong, but it just doesn’t fit that a man who has already written books about himself would be interested in a book about someone else).

Here is what I think Obama should read this summer:

What’s Wrong With the World, by G K Chesterton

The Fall of the House of Hapsburg, by Edward Crankshaw

The Conservative Mind, by Russell Kirk

And last, but not least…

Caucus of Corruption, by Matt Margolis and Mark Noonan.

What do you think?

UPDATE, by Matt Margolis:

Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand

Basic Economics, by Thomas Sowell

Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss

Michael Yon reports:

While Axle worked, I asked about times when he “smashed” the Taliban. British soldiers like to use the word “smashed” when talking about the Taliban. When Axle would finish talking about one fight, I would ask about another. Finally, Axle said, “You Yanks are great. You like to hear stories about us smashin’ the Taliban but people at home want to know how much we miss our families.” We both chuckled, and I asked, “Really? They don’t ask you about smashing the Taliban?” “That’s right,” then Axle said something like, “They only want to hear how sad we are.” Axle and I got along great because I didn’t care if he missed his family and he didn’t care if I missed mine. This part is about smashing people who would help those who smashed the World Trade Centers and blew up people in London and Bali and Jakarta and Israel and Spain and the Philippines and anywhere else they can reach. There is a crucial development and governance aspect to this war, and still a crucial smashing side. Sometimes you’ve got to swap hats for helmets. Mullah Omar is still alive, apparently in Pakistan, and he needs to be killed. Just on 20 August I heard a Taliban singing over a walkie talkie that Mullah Omar “Is our leader,” and they were celebrating shooting down a British helicopter only twelve hours before just some miles from here. There will be time to hug families later. Now is a time for fighting.

MoD responds:

Greetings,

The British Ministry of Defence canceled my embed after today’s dispatch. Please Read “Bad Medicine“.

Next Stop U.S. Forces.

Your Writer,

Michael

I like a Brit who wants to smash the Taliban and doesn’t want to whine about how he misses his family. The US MSM and overall left is like that, too – just wants to know how miserable our troops are, etc. Don’t these people understand what a professional soldier does? These are men and women who volunteered – during war time – to don their nation’s uniform. They do what they do because they are the best of the best and all they really want is victory for their nation – especially when its over some inhuman savages like the Taliban. As long as we back people like Axle (and his like in the US military, and other allied forces), we’re going to win because they’ll keep smashing the enemy until he’s dead or taken. It might take a long time; it will take a lot of blood and treasure; it almost certainly will required continually revised tactics…but it will be done, if we – the people – will it so.

But one wonders just what the British Ministry of Defense is really thinking? And how many like that are there in the US Department of Defense? Just who is running the show, and do they want to win?

Meanwhile, kick a few bucks over to Yon as he’s entirely reader-supported.

Scott Ott lays it out:

…Palin does not allege that the health care reform bill contains the phrase “death panel” or that it openly advocates euthanasia. Sarah Palin’s charge has legs because:

1.) The only way to save money in a government-run health system is to ration care.

2.) The majority of health care expenditures for most people come near the end of life, and thus the elderly present the greatest opportunity for cost savings.

3.) Special-needs people, like Palin’s son Trig, who has Down’s Syndrome, also require spending — another opportunity for economizing.

4.) The government, and too many in our society, believe …

a) infants in the womb to be less worthy of protection than Michael Vick’s dogs,

b) Trig Palin’s life to be Sarah’s foolish choice, and

c) the elderly to be a burden on society.

5.) Other governments which run health care operations have a track record of delaying and denying coverage based on the limited supply of medical professionals and equipment, as well as cost-containment considerations.

6.) The end-of-life counseling language appeared in a section of a bill on cost-containment.

7.) The American people don’t trust politicians, and would rise up in unified opposition if the federal government had a plan to take over and run little league athletics, let alone health care, which does involve life and death decisions.

8.) Americans love freedom.

The reason why the “traditional” media has failed to knock down what Kurtz, et al, see as spurious “death panel” allegations is because journalists and politicians ignore the real facts and the legitimate concerns of the American people…

The left and the MSM (I know, same/same, these days) took note of the fact that the various health care proposals all lacked the phrase “death panel” and figured that this destroyed Palin’s assertion. What the left/MSM failed to note is that we’re a bit wiser than they give us credit for – and Sarah Palin just leaves them in the dust. This is because the MSM/left rates intellect by college degrees and where they are obtained – we rate intellect by what someone uses their brains for. The very well educated Obama uses his to advocate a 1,000+ page health care plan he’s never read – Palin used hers to note that some of the provisions in the unread-by-Obama bill would turn the screws towards euthanasia as a means of controlling health care costs under a “public option”. Obama applied mindless repetition of leftist talking points – Palin applied common sense.

In addition to Palin’s superior application of mental aptitude, there is also Palin’s superior political grasp – while Obama and his Democrats convinced themselves in spite of their own campaign rhetoric to the contrary that America had turned left in November of 2008, Palin realized that the government-created financial meltdown was the very last straw in the public’s willingness to trust the government. A government which causes people’s houses to go down in value by 20-50% is not a government which should run something as vital as health care. Obama and his Democrats didn’t even notice that they first had to restore trust in government before advocating such a major overhaul. Palin realized that with government this mistrusted, it would be easy to hammer Obama’s plans with a public already doubtful about Obama’s grand plans.

As we head towards the 2010 and 2012 political seasons, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out – the MSM is still fighting hard for Obama, but all this may end up doing is destroying the MSM and Obama at the same time. Meanwhile, in Palin, Cantor, Giuliani, Romney, Gingrich, Jindal and many others, the GOP is showing that it clearly has the intellectual and political tools necessary to win – all that is lacking, for the moment, is a clear plan of action.

Because with the New York Democrats in meltdown, if Giuliani runs, he’ll win:

A close ally of Rudy Giuliani said Monday night that he believes it’s “better than 50-50” that the former mayor will run for governor.

“We’ve spoken on and off this year about it and my impression was always that he was not intent on running, but after our [recent] breakfast … I would say he’s definitely leaning toward it,” said Rep. Pete King (R-L.I.).

Others close to Giuliani said he will likely make his mind up in the fall.

Giuliani should – his proven executive experience makes him the best man possible to clean up the Democrats’ mess.

Right up there with CFR and going to the UN over Iraq, Bernanke is a clear Bush Administration error – and Obama is set to repeat it. Mish’s gets a quote from John Hussman which nails what is wrong with this:

“Our forecast is for moderate but positive growth going into next year. We think that by the spring, early next year, that as these credit problems resolve and, as we hope, the housing market begins to find a bottom, that the broader resiliency of the economy, which we are seeing in other areas outside of housing, will take control and will help the economy recover to a more reasonable growth pace.”

Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman

On Friday, investors took great cheer in an optimistic statement by Ben Bernanke suggesting good prospects for economic growth ahead. We might be inclined to place a sliver of credibility in Chairman Bernanke’s assessment – if not for the fact that the quote above wasn’t from last week at all, but rather, hails back to November 8, 2007, just before the recent recession began. You might recall that the S&P 500 was pushing 1500 at the time. The implosion of the global credit markets was still just a slight rumble…

…the resources used in the recent bailout were not just free money tossed out of a helicopter. Only a partial-equilibrium economist thinks that way. No, this was an allocation of trillions of dollars of real resources that could be spent improving access of poor families to health care, finding cures for life-changing diseases, providing better education, and reversing the crowding-out of productive private investment. A public servant willing to act this carelessly with the resources entrusted to him, and so strongly in defense of fellow bankers, frankly does not deserve the job. Most likely, we will face the same credit issues a few quarters from now, given that the lull in the adjustable-rate reset schedule is near its end. We continue to expect a fresh acceleration of credit losses as we enter 2010. It would be best if we faced these challenges with more thoughtful leadership.

For the life of me, I really can’t figure out just why anyone thinks we can borrow our way out of a problem based upon irresponsible borrowing. Its like I went to Freddy “Knuckles” Corleone to borrow money to pay off the debt I have with Chuck “Kneecapper” Malone. Stop borrowing. Cut spending to be in line with revenues. Start encouraging private investment in productive enterprises. Its going to hurt, no matter what we do – Bernanke’s problem is that what he’ll do is hurt us worse. Not only should he not be re-appointed, we should consider criminal charges based on gross negligence.

Best expressed over at Powerline:

Having read the CIA report in its entirety, I am struck once again by how humane our treatment of captured terrorists was intended to be, and generally was. The handful of incidents highlighted by press accounts of the report came to light precisely because they were reported as deviations from the treatment of detainees that had been authorized by DOJ lawyers.

As a threshold matter, it is important to note that the allegations that have been reported in the press are just that–allegations, sometimes based on hearsay. The CIA’s Inspector General singled out two incidents for special investigation, both of which involved the same debriefer–not a trained interrogator. As for the other allegations, the Inspector General’s report says:

For all of the instances, the allegations were disputed or too ambiguous to reach any authoritative determination regarding the facts. Thus, although these allegations are illustrative of the nature of the concerns held by individuals associated with the CTC Program and the need for clear guidance, they did not warrant separate investigations or administrative action.

In other words, the US government under President Bush was not a collection of bloodthirsty war criminals bent on death and destruction. Who knew?

Oh, everyone – everyone who wasn’t a hate-filled, kook leftist, that is.

Seeing as I’m ill and, probably, some of our readers are, too – here goes:

Lord, You invite all who are burdened to come to You. Allow your healing hand to heal me. Touch my soul with Your compassion for others. Touch my heart with Your courage and infinite love for all. Touch my mind with Your wisdom, that my mouth may always proclaim Your praise. Teach me to reach out to You in my need, and help me to lead others to You by my example. Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve You with all my strength. Touch gently this life which You have created, now and forever. Amen.

I do thank all for their kind words and prayers.

I expect it – so does Richard Bove:

A prominent banking analyst said on Sunday that 150 to 200 more U.S. banks will fail in the current banking crisis, and the industry’s payments to keep the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp afloat could eat up 25 percent of pretax income in 2010.

Richard Bove of Rochdale Securities said this will likely force the FDIC, which insures deposits, to turn increasingly to non-U.S. banks and private equity funds to shore up the banking system.

“The difficulty at the moment is finding enough healthy banks to buy the failing banks,” Bove wrote.

The FDIC is expected on August 26 to vote on relaxed guidelines for private equity firms to invest in failed banks, after critics said previously proposed rules were too harsh and would actually dissuade firms from making investments.

Bove said “perhaps another 150 to 200 banks will fail,” on top of 81 so far in 2009, adding stress to the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund.

We’re well in to Great Depression levels of bank failures – not there, yet, but certainly heading that way. Do keep in mind that all of the economic data indicating an economic rebound is, to put it bluntly, bogus. Its all smoke and mirrors put out by banks and government officials who are desperate to have people believe that all is well in the hope that some how, some way, American consumers will just buy a whole bunch of **** and pull us out of the recession. Ain’t gonna happen – not only is unemployment and falling wages crimping the ability to do such a thing, but the American people – yours, truly, included – just doesn’t want to spend a lot of money.

Think of it like this – I got my lap top in 2005. Its obviously out of date, right? Certainly – the cyber-geeks have developed all kinds of new stuff to put on computers. Trouble is, who needs it? The lap top works just fine – it does every thing I need it to do and given the way these things are manufactured, the physical lap top will probably last me another ten years. And so, I’m not going to buy what I don’t need – no matter how cool the upgraded stuff is. I think that a majority of Americans are viewing things the same way – buy what you need; save your money; don’t be suckered by the latest ad campaign which is trying to convince you to part with your money for something only marginally better than what you’ve got right now.

American consumers both cannot and will not lead the way out of this depression – and because these consumers are not doing this, we’re rapidly falling in to a deflationary spiral. Now, this could be changed by the Fed printing money like no tomorrow – we could go back to the 1970’s “stagflation” – but the basic thrust of things is that less is fine…less frippery, less conspicuous consumption, less profligacy. The only way we’ll get out of this mess is by earning our way out of it – if people can earn money and then save it (hit the road, tax man!) we’ll eventually have a rebound in consumer spending. But if anyone is expecting the American people to agree to bury themselves further in debt in order to bail out statist liberals and dimwitted financiers, he’s got another thing coming.

UPDATE: OMB and CBO see total federal government debt doubling over the next decade. Does anyone out there want to argue that this is sustainable? The people have figured it out but Uncle Sam (and the liberals) haven’t. We can’t borrow our way out of this.

Wicked fools playing up to a kook left base:

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. has decided to appoint a prosecutor to examine nearly a dozen cases in which CIA interrogators and contractors may have violated anti-torture laws and other statutes when they allegedly threatened terrorism suspects, according to two sources familiar with the move.

Holder is poised to name John Durham, a career Justice Department prosecutor from Connecticut, to lead the inquiry, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the process is not complete.

Raking over the past and hoping to find something, anything, to allow the left to feel justified in its near-treasonous behavior 2003-2009 – that is all this about. And the proof in this is the selective leaking of information over the past few days – selective leaks which don’t tell the full truth (and thus don’t tell the truth at all, in the largest sense) but which are usable if your goal is to paint the Bush Administration in the most lurid light possible.

We should, at this point, pledge to do the same once we return to power – bring all of your leftist leaders up on charges. But, we won’t – because do to so is uncivilized, unChristian and unpatriotic. If only you on the left had an ounce of dignity and common sense.

I wish to offer a tip of the hat to the excellent doctors, nurses and staff at Centennial Hills Hospital out here in Las Vegas. This is the 6th time, I believe, that my family has availed itself of this facility and each time we have been treated with the utmost courtesy and skill.

All through last night I was experiencing abdominal pains on an increasing level and by this morning I suspected the return of an old malady and my wife drove me over to Centennial Hills. Signing in at the front desk at 10:47 am, I was released from the ER at approximately 2:20pm – after having had a series of blood and urine tests as well as a CAT scan which did, indeed, confirm that I have diverticulitis. I was offered a night’s stay in the hospital if I felt that my pain management required medical supervision. Declining this with thanks, I was given four prescriptions (two anti-biotics, an anti-nausea medication and pain medication) – those prescriptions will be filled in less than two hours from this writing.

Beat that, Canada. We’ve got the best – and even an uninsured person arriving at the hospital would have been treated just as I have been. We need to fix some things, but what happened to me today cannot happen under socialized medicine – the government bureaucrats don’t allow such efficiencies because they are costly. Keeping in mind that if my malady went untreated long enough, it would have required major surgery and, perhaps, have resulted in my death. We don’t need an overhaul – we do need a more efficient means of ensuring that people have the coverage they need; and government isn’t the answer.