Did Obama Know About Release of Terrorist?

Our readers, being the very informed and responsble citizens that they are, are well aware of the release of one Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, "the only individual convicted in connection with the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988. The event which killed 270 people, including all those on board, is now one of the most spoken of terrorist events in recent memory.



On August 20, the British government released him on "compassionate grounds." Megrahi has terminal prostate cancer. Boo-hoo.

The release of convicted terrorist Megrahi led the White House to issue a statement expressing "deep regret" for his release, explaining that it "expressed repeatedly to officials of the Government of the United Kingdom and to Scottish authorities, we continue to believe that Megrahi should serve out his sentence in Scotland." After crowds in his home country (predictably) greeted him as a national hero, the White House pretended to be surprised calling the reaction of Libyan citizens "outrageous and disgusting." However, those of us who remember this event from Iraq, circa 2005, in which U.S. contractors' bodies were burned alive and mutilated before being strung up from a bridge by "peace loving" Musilms, where not so surprised by the reaction of Libyans to the release of a terrorist.

All the same, though, it now appears that Barack Obama new all along that the release of Mr. al-Magrahi was imminent. Via Astute Bloggers:

British officials claim Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton were kept informed at all stages of discussions concerning Megrahi’s return

the officials say the Americans spoke out because they were taken aback by the row over Megrahi’s release, not because they did not know it was about to happen.

‘The US was kept fully in touch about everything that was going on with regard to Britain’s discussions with Libya in recent years and about Megrahi,’ said the Whitehall aide.

‘We would never do anything about Lockerbie without discussing it with the US. It is disingenuous of them to act as though Megrahi’s return was out of the blue.

'They knew about our prisoner transfer agreement with Libya and they knew that the Scots were considering Megrahi’s case.’

Now, I'm not saying I'm surprised that our bleeding-heart of a president is a lying pantywaste who can't even stand up to the Scots on a simple prisoner release, much less our enemies. We've known B.O. is a chump; sheep in wolves clothing, if you will. What is absolutely intolerable is the insulting of our intellect, to suggest that he was surprised by the release of Magrahi. In fact, some might call that suggestion "disingenuous". According to unnamed "British officials" who are fed up with the White House's moral indignation on this issue, Obama and Clinton only spoke out because they were so surprised that so many people were upset, and "not because they did not know it was about to happen."

This is the definition of liberal elitism, the inability to grasp what us backwoods hicks might have to say about the release of a convicted killer. We have seen this same "deer in the headlights" look from the administration with their healthcare proposals, their handling of the bailouts and the economy. "What?! We were sure you'd love a government virtual takeover of the car industry. You mean you didn't want an unemployment rate of nearly 10%? How could you oppose the release of terrorist? Didn't you know he has prostate cancer?" And on and on it goes.

Allahpundit puts it best.

He keeps his mouth shut until a critical mass of public outrage is reached, then he creeps behind the podium and offers tepid denunciations. Way to lead, champ.

Democrat Baron Hill Suddenly Caught in a "Compromising Position" on YouTube

Needless to say, afte this video floats around a bit, Baron Hill will not be running "his" congressional office much longer. Nor will he be able to congratulate himself about what a benefocent leader he is for allowing his constituents to attend "his" townhall meetings. Seriously, guys it's just too good to be true.
As our friends over a Hot Air point at, it's getting to the point where there are just "Too many Democratic congressmen behaving like jackasses for bloggers to keep up anymore". Alas, we do our duty, bravely showing Democrat blow hards in very, very compromising positions.

This is how they see you, America. You work for them and you owe them a lot, and I mean a lot of respect.

The Importance of Our Politics

I hear far too often from "moderates" and "independents" that politics is useless, or that our public discourse is too hardened by politics. They claim to hate partisanship and seem to believe that no matter what, they will never be heard.

News flash: You're never heard because you never participate in our politics. Or, perhaps more correctly, you were never heard until now. Everyday more and more Americans are finally realizing that anything having to do with public policy, foreign relations and an entire slew of othe issues is politics, and in any discussion which requires the utterance of opinion like-minded people will group. We call thes groups political parties, and they use their collective influence to protect and enforce what they believe is important to them. This is civics 101. The absence of moderates and "independents" from the process for literally years while simultaneously whining about "partisanship", reliably refusing to commit to anything or anyone, is what led to the election of a Democrat controlled Congress and a virtually tone deaf president. Now, in droves they throw up their hands and cry foul.

After the election of Barack Obama last year, I wrote a letter to a friend of mine regarding the massive Democrat sweep. "America has elected their liberal Democrat government, and now they're going to get it," I told him. And indeed they have. They just don't like what they see. We see trillion dollar deficits, government mandated health care on the horizon, government seizure of private business disguised as "bailouts". We even finally got to see liberals' idea of a "middle class tax cut"; haven't you noticed the extra $12 a week? Most of all we've been able to see how the elected officials of the self proclaimed "party of the people" react to everyday Americans. The comman man has been called a brown shirt and "astroturf" by Democats and the liberal Speaker of the House.

Now over half of America believes the liberal Democrats they elected are...too liberal! It's kind of like orderig the baked duck and then complaining that it tastes "too gamey". What exactly did you expect? And besides, what does "too liberal" mean? Is there even such a thing as "just the right amount" of liberal? I ask you, is there such a thing as "just the right amount" of aborted babies? Or "just the right amount" of released criminals? How about "just the right amount" of confiscated or outlawed guns? Or "just the right amount" of coddling to America's enemies? Or just the...you get the point. Vote conservative. Vote Republican.

This is politics. It's not pretty and it's not for pussies. Pick a party or start your own and start fighting for what you believe in. This country has little use for sniffling bench sitters.

Move Over Charlie

Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) managed to irritate this conservative twice today....granted it's not a difficult thing to do, but still.

Earlier Rangel threw down the race card while commenting on the ObamaCare bill stating: "Why do black people have to bargain for what is theirs? Why do we have to wait for the right to vote? Why can't we get what God has given us? And that is the right to live as human beings and not negotiate with white southerners and not court the votes. Just do the right thing," Rangel said. Rangel is absolutely right, it is about doing the right thing. Which is exactly why the majority of Americans are opposed to the bill. When in doubt, play the race card to garner support. This is more of the same typical liberal rhetoric that we can expect from the Al Sharptons, Sonia Sotomayors , and Charlie Rangels of the world...if things don't go your way throw in a race or gender card and you're sure to get your way! As a Hispanic female, their behavior is both disgusting and irritating.

The Washington Post later went on to report the following on Rangel:

Mr. Rangel's amended financial disclosure form, which exposes omissions from his
2002 through 2006 records, is a treasure trove of outrage. He neglected to
report a checking account with the Congressional Federal Credit Union and one
with Merrill Lynch, each valued between $250,000 and $500,000; the tens of
thousands of dollars he's earning from dividends from a number of mutual funds
and stocks; and the money made from the sale of a Harlem townhouse. As a result,
Mr. Rangel's reported net worth doubled, from between $516,015 and $1,316,000 to
between $1,028,024 and $2,495,000.

This is the exact type of character we can expect from the gentleman (and I am using the term very loosely) who runs the Ways and Means Committee. Fabulous.

Mitt Romney 2012?

All of you former Right Up Front readers know of my undying affection and unyielding loyalty to Mitt Romney. Indeed, he is my first choice for the nomination in 2012. Now it looks like the Stormin' Mormon may be testing the waters for an encore run at the GOP knod. Politico's Jonathan Martin has the details.

After a few stops in some early primary states and lavish fundraiser at a "trendy" Washington eatery, there are many reasons for any former Romney fan to be hopeful. And who better to go up against a now-obviously undisciplined current White House resident than the uber-disciplined, results oriented former businessman and governor?

Lucky for those of us squarely in the Mitt camp, it appears we're in good company. In March, he won the CPAC presidential preference straw poll for the third year in a row. He is consistantly among the top Republicans in poll after poll, including this one. And this one. He competes the best among the other GOP potentials against Barack Obama in that poll, and even ties the president at 45% in this one. Granted, dear readers, it is far, far, far too early to be vesting any weight in these polls. Not because they are not accurate. But because the situation right now will absolutely not exist in 3 years when we choose our (wo)man.

Or will it?

Thank you Captain Obvious

Writer for the Washington Post Dan Balz writes After a Bruising August, Time for Obama Team to Regroup. To coin a popular phrase "duh". I suspect Mr. Balz will eventually do a follow up article letting us know that the world is indeed not flat.

Obama won the votes of the American people based on a soundbite platform of change. What TeamObama didn't anticipate is the American people pounding on the doors of legislators looking to collect. Nearly every Gallup Poll done within the last few weeks shows Obama's approval rating falling at a rate that should make Rahm Emmanuel put down his fishing pole and reach for the James Carville playbook.

Obama currently faces opposition from both sides of the aisle with former sychophants like Nancy Pelosi challenging the President to return to his "more liberal" roots, especially in the health care reform arena. With the White House officially stating that the public health care options is now off the table, he is receiving heavy criticism from his very insistent base. "They are now threatening to turn the fight for retaining a public option in the bill into a crusade" states Blaz. With all this discontent from his legislative base, the White House staffers would still have the American public believe that their is a great level of cohesion among the left. It's no suprise his approval rating is falling, he can't even get his cronies on the same page.

If the townhalls were any indication of the level of support regarding the public health care option, you'd think the White House would go back to the drawing board rather than take leave for a vay-cay.

"Former Senate majority leader Bob Dole and former Democratic senator Bill Bradley weighed in with advice to the president over the weekend. Bradley said a grand bargain is still possible, but only if Obama is prepared to put tort reform on the table as an enticement to attract Republican support for universal coverage." Tort reform? I'm sure the Harvard Law grad who spent the majority of his career practicing law would be excited about this possible option...oh wait, no that's right Obama is merely a career politician. Whew. That would've been a toughie.

Granted, Obama does not have to worry about elections until 2012, the legislators who are headed back to Washington have the 2010 elections to worry about. After visiting with their irrate constituents they are far less inclined to be the unified "yes men" they once were, thus will be considerably more difficult to work with than they were prior to the August break.

And as such, I'll sit back and watch their return with a smug grin as they attempt to work out the health care issue.

Anyone got any popcorn?

Because I Said So

San Antonio health officials, along with the help of the of our beloved Major Julian Castro, and the San Antonio Restaurant Association have decided to change the way food is consumed in this city.

They are targeting local eateries and encouraging (read: threatening) them to offer healthier meal options, lest the restaurant be faced with future regulations or fines for non-compliance. The argue that the city is "getting heavier" and this is a viable options to combat that. Lest we succumb to the ravages of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for healthier options, but as it stands, they are out there already. If I've got an hour for lunch and I want to eat something nutritious, my first instinct is not to go to McDonalds (or for all you Texans Whataburger). Even if I do, for the sake of the argument, most fast food establishments and local eateries have healthier options already soup/salads etc. It's about knowing the facts behind what you eat and the willingness to pass up chips and salsa or the enchilada plate for a salad with light ranch. Either way, that is the choice of the patron not the restaurant or the government.

And since when did it become okay for government to attempt to regulate what restaurants serve? Talk about government intervention in the every day lives of citizens. As both a conservative AND a San Antonian I am beyond appalled and disgusted by this blatant display of governmental bullying and preying on the local small businesses in order to appear to take a stand on a liberal political issue. And please note, I stated appalled, not surprised. After all, it is Julian Castro who is governing our local sector. How much can you really expect from twin brother's who were raised on the 'south side' of San Antonio by a mother who was the founding member of La Raza Unida in SA, but yet in all her political indoctrination, she failed to teach her boys Spanish. So much for the "united race". Way to go Rosie.

The country has gone so far left, that it is now acceptable to tolerate this type of behavior from our representatives...and in my own beloved Red State no less!