Personally, I thought Episode VI was more of a classic.

But then again, who am I to debate the American Film Institute?

As you may know, during UK Prime Minister Gordon Browns's visit to the White House, the customary gift-exchange took place. Brown's gift was rather fascinating:

Brown gave Obama an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian ship HMS Gannet, which was used in anti-slavery patrols alongside its sister ship the HMS Resolute. The desk currently used by Obama in the White House Oval office is built from the timbers of the HMS Resolute and is called the "Resolute desk."

Obama's gift? DVDs. The titles of the DVDs has been unknown...till now:

Here is the entire list:

* Citizen Kane
* The Godfather
* Casablanca
* Raging Bull
* Singin' in the Rain
* Gone with the Wind
* Lawrence of Arabia
* Schindler’s List
* Vertigo
* The Wizard of Oz
* City Lights
* The Searchers
* Star Wars: Episode IV
* Psycho
* 2001: A Space Odyssey
* Sunset Boulevard
* The Graduate
* The General
* On the Waterfront
* It's a Wonderful Life
* Chinatown
* Some Like It Hot
* The Grapes of Wrath
* ET: The Extra-Terrestrial
* To Kill a Mockingbird

Total cost of the above items? $418.26.

Now, had the President thrown in some seasons of 24, I could see this as an almost-fair trade.

...Almost.

Nawww, he wouldn't do THAT would he?

...would he?

Let's recap the salient points here:

1. In September, 2008, the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) - after months of preparation - is ordered to Iraq. (One of two SBCTs that were then scheduled to replace the two currently in Iraq)

2. In February, 2009, President Obama announces his Iraq drawdown/Afghanistan surge - the 5th SBCT will be diverted to Afghanistan instead of Iraq.

3. March, 2009, the DoD announces the 4th SBCT will deploy to Iraq this fall, several months ahead of the original schedule replacing the 5th SBCT in the rotation in order to maintain two Stryker Brigades in Iraq.

For the Commander-In-Chief to be playing politics with the lives of American soldiers is reprehensible, and in my opinion a qualification of "high crimes". But, thanks to the Left's lapdog media, no one will hear much of it. Pity.

from Greyhawk via AOSHQ

God save the Children

Bad enough kids don't seem to know much about the older portions of the history of Western Civilization, now that don't even know the details of some of the horrors of first part of this century.

What ARE they learning about World War II?

Around 1.3 million people perished in the Nazi death camp during the Second World War, but a survey of more than 1,000 secondary school pupils aged 11-16 revealed that a quarter still did not know its purpose.

Of those, about 10 per cent were not sure what it was, 8 per cent thought it was a country bordering Germany, 2 per cent thought it was a beer, the same proportion said it was a religious festival and a further 1 per cent said it was a type of bread.

At least Britain's next generation will have fine taste in beer.

I think.

Southern Idiots?

A quote from this NYT piece:

Along the Atlantic Coast, parts of the “suburban South,” notably Virginia and North Carolina, made history last week in breaking from their Confederate past and supporting Mr. Obama. Those states have experienced an influx of better educated and more prosperous voters in recent years, pointing them in a different political direction than states farther west, like Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, and Appalachian sections of Kentucky and Tennessee.

(snip)

...Many of those counties, rural and isolated, have been less exposed to the diversity, educational achievement and economic progress experienced by more prosperous areas.

That's right, you didn't vote for Obama because you are all a bunch of backwoods rednecks who cling to your guns and religion.

Eh, expect more of this browbeating till Texas goes blue.

Go Vote

There's nothing else to be said.

Of Planks and Eyes

CORRECTION: SHE MADE IT UP!

Sad.


From the Telegraph via IraqPundit

Both presidential rivals are working behind the scenes to calm the increasingly incendiary atmosphere on the campaign trail, which erupted with lurid claims about Mr Obama's links with the former terrorist Bill Ayres and a lynch mob atmosphere at McCain rallies.

Two Democratic sources with knowledge of the thinking in the Obama camp say that forming a partnership with Mr McCain would prove that Mr Obama will reach across the aisle and also help rehabilitate Mr McCain, who many Democrats believe has been pushed by hardline advisers into making increasingly desperate attacks on his rival.

Wow, sounds serious. A lynch mob atmosphere? I feel afraid. Someone else must have also been afraid...after all, no follower of Hope and Change would have done this without provocation. Wait, wait, why does that story not sound surprising? Ok, granted, you cannot let one monster be representative of all Obama supporters, but the point is that the current media narrative of "angry Republicans" is a gargantuan double standard in light of this attack.

Interesting tidbit at the end of the article. Seems if McCain would play nice, Obama is willing to reward his honorable service with...

[A] Democratic strategist who talks regularly with Mr Obama's senior advisors added: "Obama has said all along that he will work with the best people, regardless of party affiliation. John McCain has experience and he used to have a record of bipartisanship. We're all going to need to pull together when this is over."

Mr McCain will not be offered a cabinet job, but Mr Obama may ask him to spearhead a bipartisan overhaul of veteran's affairs, an issue close to Mr McCain's heart.

Well, isn't that a great show of The One's infinite mercy and grace? Such compassion! Wait, if McCain is an erratic old man, why would they stick him in Veteran's Affairs? I thought he was on the verge of psychosis?

12 days to go.

Higher Learning Isn't What It Used To Be...

No sirree bobcat. (via Moe Lane)

I'd post the vid, 'cept I'm too disgusted by it. Arrogant college kids treating their parents like they are toddlers who need directions to the bathroom is hardly a way to earn votes for your candidate, much less respect for yourself. I get the vague feeling that someone at Moveon.org has some lingering resentment at not being allowed to go the protest the Vietnam War as a tween. Just a feeling though.

...Although, if this is the new standard of ads the Left is implementing to get votes, I'm all for it. Two of the actors are from Gossip Girl. Yep, you can't beat people who portray hormonal, sex-crazy teens when choosing who you want as the sirens for the other side.

Last Note: If "coolness" is the new way of picking the leader of the free world, then I might consider moving to Canada. At least they can pick them right.