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Loose Canons
Lame Duck SGO
So many squandered opportunities — where does one begin?
What was I thinking when I wrote last week that if Republicans stuck together they could have a clean sweep of the lame duck session? I admit it was wishful thinking, as others did in speculating that the Republican equivalent of Silvio Berlusconi — Michael Steele — wouldn’t run for another term as RNC Chairman.
So far, there’s some good and much awful, but there’s so much SGO that the supposedly limping mallard must be doing wind sprints to limber up every day just to keep up with the schedule. (For those just joining us, the acronym SGO was invented by my pal and ex-SEAL Al “the Heckler” Clark, and stands for S***Goin’ On.) And so much of the SGO is not even taking place in the hollowed halls of the Capitol.
On the good side, Harry Reid wasn’t able to muster a sufficient number of lemmings to overcome a Republican veto on the “DREAM” Act, which would have given amnesty and a path to citizenship to young illegal immigrants who go to college or serve in the U.S. military. The tax deal — which the House hyperlibs were against — was good enough to cause Pelosi to snub Obama’s signing ceremony and bad enough to fuel posturing by a lot of 2012 presidential wannabes.
The tax deal won’t boost the economy: it prevents the damage that would have been caused by tax increases, but there are enough phony tax breaks — such as more tax “rebates” for those who don’t pay taxes — that it’s a significant spending loss. Republicans were able — with some help from Democrats — to stop the “omnibus” spending bill that would have dumped another $1 trillion or so into our debt, and would have begun funding Obamacare to the tune of over $1 billion.
But it was more, so much more that even some Democrats couldn’t swallow it. They remembered the Bush-McCain fiasco of immigration “reform” in 2007 and the fate suffered by the House “blue dogs” for supporting Obamacare. Had “DREAM” passed, it would have been the personal nightmare of many candidates in 2012.
Which the weekend repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law will be for some of the seven RINOs who voted for it and a bunch of Democrats who are running in two years. Most of the Senate RINO caucus — Olympia Snowe, bill co-sponsor Susan Collins, Scott Brown, George Voinovich, Lisa Murkowski, Mark Kirk joined by Nevada’s John Ensign — all voted for the repeal.
Democrats — such as Virginia’s Jim Webb and Missouri’s Claire McCaskill — are going to be targeted in 2012 by conservative religious groups because they voted for repeal. (Some of these groups — citing what they characterize as an attack on religious belief inherent in the DADT repeal — are already mobilizing.) Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen — credited yesterday for the repeal by Andrea Mitchell for his “moral” stand — may have his confirmation blocked for a second term as Chairman for the same reason.
The Democrats are threatening to go nuclear, not just on the misbegotten START treaty with Russia but to change the Senate rules to enable a simple majority to end debate and force votes on bills and nominations. (The last time the “nuclear option” was proposed was back in 2005, when then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist thought it was time to break the blockade of Bush judicial nominations. Media hysteria derailed it. Reid and Durbin may try it — to assured media acclaim — next year.)
Harry Reid has promised a confirmation vote on Obama’s new Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty in the coming week. He’ll need 67 votes to get it, and enough Republicans are hard over against it that they may delay confirmation until the next Congress when they can get answers to some really important questions. Such as, what does the treaty really mean in limiting the number of delivery systems? If you strap the right bomb racks on almost any fighter-bomber you can deliver a nuke. How many tactical weapons will we lose under this treaty?
The fighter-bombers — F-16s, F-15s and F-18s — are heavily engaged right now in Afghanistan. The president’s new Afghanistan strategy, announced last week, slipped past in the media frenzy covering the lame duck quackery. Obama says we’re on track to meet our objectives. Which is patently false: the Afghan government is entirely deficient in establishing the local governmental institutions in areas where our troops have been fighting to clear out the Taliban. We’re not making progress in Afghanistan: nation-building is failing, as it always does, to establish any permanent or even semi-permanent gains.
As the Financial Times wrote, Obama’s Afghanistan strategy can be summed up in three words: “surge, bribe and run.” Which was confirmed yesterday by Vice President Biden on Meet the Press when he said that “come hell or high water” we’re out of Afghanistan in 2014. Defeating the enemy isn’t even a footnote to the strategy. House Republicans should plan their own review of the Afghanistan strategy — and all other Obama defense strategies — as a headline effort next year.
Another part of the Republican review should be how the Obama administration has failed utterly to deal with two of the more dangerous characters on the world stage: Kim Jong-Il and Julian Assange. The UN is in emergency session to consider the North’s promise of catastrophe if the South conducts more military exercises. The UN will accomplish nothing, as it has on Iran’s nuclear program and pretty much everything else since the Suez Crisis of 1956.
Cyberanarchist Assange has been bailed out of a Brit jail and may be extradited to Sweden to face sexual assault charges. Attorney General Holder has apparently empanelled a secret grand jury to indict Assange for publishing the leaked Defense and State Departments documents. Under the Espionage Act (Title 18 US Code Section 793), Assange could be convicted and imprisoned for up to ten years for having unauthorized possession of classified information and publishing it for the purpose of injuring the United States.
But what about the other publishers of classified information — such as the Washington Post, the New York Times and others — which have published information that wasn’t just “secret” as Assange published, but “top secret” information such as the NSA’s Terrorist Surveillance program, the CIA’s secret prisons for terrorists abroad and the Belgian “SWIFT” consortium helping trace terrorist financing? They are as guilty as Assange.
The answer to Assange — as I’ve written often — should have been a cyber attack to prevent publication which the Obama administration failed to mount. Assange is beyond the jurisdiction of American courts. Indicting him will be an empty gesture because the Europeans aren’t likely to extradite him here.
About the Author
Jed Babbin served as a Deputy Undersecretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush. He is the author of several bestselling books including Inside the Asylum and In the Words of Our Enemies. You can follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (29) | Leave a comment
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MikeD| 12.20.10 @ 8:47AM
Other than the definition of SGO, I'm not quite sure what this article is all about. I'm assuming that it is a sort of critique of the "Quack-Thump" abomination being jammed down our throats by reid and pelosi, with the encouragement of 'duck-in-chief' barry the muslim.
Every single slap in the face of the voters that the arrogant democrats shoved through, and even the ones that didn't, should be kept in mind for campaign 2012 by the Republicans. Voters should not be allowed to forget the additional month of sleep deprivation; and another ruined Holiday period, foisted upon us by the dems. If any person in American laughed at the possibility that barry and his boyz would try a 'coup de'tat' to establish the reign of emperor barry the first, this is a reminder that this gang will do ANYTHING to keep, and abuse, power.
The First Amendment is a real problem. It is probably the most important element of the Constitution as far as controlling the government (Although the Second is the insurance policy!) the media has abused the right by becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the democratic gang of thugs. Frankly, "W" lost me when he chickened out over the new york crimes story on the terrorist funding. He should have dragged every manager, writer, and editor, plus the owners out and frog marched them to jail. At the very least he could have bankrupted them with legal costs. But, I admit I do not have the answer; and I'm sure the Founding Fathers knew that the type of mind that went into journalism would be a dangerous thing to let loose on the streets; but we have no choice; we need them.
Any "democracy" needs two things to survive; a free and unfettered press (media) and an educated electorate. Unfortunately, we have neither. The founders never envisioned a media totally under the thumb of one political party, with the same complete lack or morals, standards, or respect for the truth. (We actually don't have a democracy, it's a representative republic.)
PASS THE BRICKER AMENDMENT!
(As an 'aside: My use of caps, and lack thereof, is dependent on whether the word commands the respect of capitalization. Some, like 'democrat', pelosi', reid', etc... do not deserve capitalization.)
Dave | 12.22.10 @ 9:51AM
12/22/10
And once again I ask myself --"why the he-l bother to vote? I mean ... really."
The tally, so far: .
(a) Extra goodies added into the (so-called) Bush tax cut extensions.
(b) Gays now allowed to sue the military for anything that gets their panties in a wad.
(c) An (alleged) TREATY with the Rooskies that allows our back door to remain open so that al Queda, that stubble faced nutcase in Iran or the sawed off little cretin running North Korea to do anything they da-n well please in preparing to send a few nukes down our smokestack.
So, how'd it all happen? Well, you can blame it all on Da Fuer Obama and his second-command- henchman in charge of American stalags, Colonel Reid, but when you count up the electronic chads punched during final voting on any and/or all of these items -- I'd put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the remaining RINOS sucking up government paychecks and pensions in that white building at the end of Penn Ave.
If this is how "the new Republican" leadeship plans to control their OWN sheep ... I want no part of this elephant barn. None!
Next time (if there is one) I'm going solid --- Tea Party. It can't be a lot worse than this current clown college trying to herd their own flock.
Lord, what a joke.
megapotamus| 12.20.10 @ 9:10AM
There is a bit of jujitsu going on with Jeb's citation of Plame/Wilson. Of course we now know full and well who the supposed "leaker" was, Richard Armitage. We also know that the principal, the first journo to make the controversial revelations, Bob Novak, answered his subpoena and testified in full. Day One. It was the Lefty Press, most exemplified by Judith Miller, who refused to do so. She was of course jailed for contempt. This non-event, the non-leak of a non-secret was the biggest crime against the US since Secession, according to the Plamers. It actually encouraged our Lefty friends to consider treason a serious concept. I don't recall Mr Babbin's position on Libby etc but I think it is safe to say that the concept and practice of disclosing sources is more important than this example. Though using it as a cudgel relies on a respect for consistency in our opposites that demonstrably, they do not possess.
JP| 12.20.10 @ 11:19AM
I agree. The Plame Affair was IMHO one of worst cases of prosecutorial misconduct in recent memory. The GOP reaction was typical. Bush let Libbey wither on the vine, and the Establishment Republicans were too terrorfied to do anything.
Brian Mc| 12.20.10 @ 9:50AM
The current state of affairs in congress reminds me of what transpired as the Clintons' White House staff followed their chief from that venerable abode as he left office. There are not enough negative adjectives for the situation they are promulgating. One can only cry in stunned horror and hope that we might right the ship once they are truly gone.
hardcard| 12.20.10 @ 11:44AM
I wish I could get a refund, I donated my hard earned money to that" POS" scott brown never again will I trust any pollitician thats's a masshole.
Michael L. Hauschild| 12.20.10 @ 11:47AM
Legislation, unlike politicians in office, passes or fails. The resultant composite allows the representative to take credit for the “good,” attribute the “bad” to the opposition, and then all implicated claim credit for “effective compromise.” The fact that no one read the legislation including those legislated upon means nothing, no blame is assessed and the worth of your representative is lost in the hodgepodge of the next “omnibus” dissection of the Constitution.
I had hope that the lesson of the last election would resonate with the “right” faction of Congress. I digress to “right” simply because as I have alluded all “definition” was diffused within the printed (but unread) language of the bills. Bohner and McConnell had the best (first is always best) chance to define their colleagues and they actually stated that the “tax” issue would be addressed with no embellishments.
They lied; instead nearly nine hundred billion dollars of “balanced barter” was incorporated to placate everyone concerned with concerns of re-election, beltway entitlement, or favors owed. Once more the perpetrators escaped, hiding within the reams of lame duck paper.
The next congress will convene soon, beware. The newly elected will be shunted to the sidelines or back rows because they “need to learn the ropes. The grandiose cascade of “new” legislation, constructed to conceal intent, maintain beltway power, and broker the embellishment of influence will continue. Promises will be “nuanced,” campaigns will evolve for the next cycle based on more legislation to moderate and neutralize the last legislation. Nothing will be clarified, nothing will be removed; we will simply enter another cycle of muddling, modifying, and adjustment.
The only positive note I see so far is that the electors will be subjected to the most intense scrutiny ever generated. The electorate is aroused and aware. While I do not think that this will immediately bode well for the public, the Country or will result in re-establishing our Constitution, after all most of those in Washington have not suffered the humiliation of defeat (yet). What it will do is allow the Tea Party to “choose wisely” as to future candidates, maintain a verbal presence from within, and pressurize the political environment.
The playing field has shifted. Even the media, both conservative and liberal, is about to learn that they, much like their Washington establishment comrades, must evolve. Their penchant for establishing candidates by “name dropping” will be the first scrutinized. There are far more of us out here that instead want to “drop names.” Future candidates will be chosen by their focus and clarity, no longer by their relative positional stances, experience, or “balance.”
Compromise is now capitulation, appeasement has become a sign of weakness, and the term partisan will become as meaningless as the demarcation of an aisle.
Rump| 12.20.10 @ 12:23PM
"Begone!Itis not mete that you sit here any longer!!In the name of G-d Go!!!"
Occam's Tool| 12.20.10 @ 2:25PM
"You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately ... Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!"
Lovely, man.
Al Adab| 12.20.10 @ 3:38PM
Are we truely seeking after our Cromwell? The sentiment is however well taken.
John II| 12.20.10 @ 9:48PM
No, we don't need a Cromwell. The bitterness sewn by that colossal ego is still with the Brits, and permanently embedded in the Irish psyche.
I have to admit, though, that the sentiment is apropos, rather like the performance of Richard Harris in the 1970 flick "Cromwell."
Singlehandedly, the intolerable Harris turned me, a dyed-in-the-wool Americano Republican, into a partisan of the Royalists. Besides, Alec Guinness played Charles I with inevitable charm and dignity.
So I guess we need lines like Cromwell's delivered by men of stature like Charles I. Marco Rubio, anyone?
Nick| 12.20.10 @ 11:12PM
Or, former Colonel Allen West?
John II| 12.21.10 @ 12:32AM
Okay by me. Lots of good men and women popping up out there, with gobs of political know-how on top of the good character and good sense--and Florida seems to be producing a bumper crop these days.
A lot of prayers being answered too, I reckon. Seems as if America always starts showing her best when the going gets rough.
Nick| 12.21.10 @ 11:06PM
Amen, John II.
Sixtnpenny| 12.20.10 @ 12:24PM
The tea party phenomena is new to present day politics. I anticipate that beginning 2011, the holdover bunch and new bunch in Congress will be subject to a scrutiny they never anticipated. That oversight is NOT going away and will NOT be forgotten as we roll into the 2012 elections. The tea party common bond of much lower spending is the only thing that keeps me hopeful.
Simon Templar| 12.20.10 @ 1:34PM
The author writes,"I'm sure the Founding Fathers knew that the type of mind that went into journalism would be a dangerous thing to let loose on the streets; but we have no choice; we need them."
First, Assange is not a journalist! This story has nothing to do with journalism. What newspaper or media outlet is he employed by? Second, his actions are not legal and do not fall under the role of a journalist. Secret and classified government documents were stolen; treason on the part of those working at the state department is the REAL story here not the F*ckng documents. Assange is a spy and has been involved in stealing documents from the US Government. This is an international crime.
The astounding and shocking aspect to this story is not the documents per se but this current governments inaction and silent collusion with this Assange and its refusal to investigate and prosecute its own state department. The American public should be calling for impeachment and should be outraged.
MikeD| 12.20.10 @ 2:56PM
Simon; That was my comment, but it had nothing to do with that P.O.S. Assange; but the general, muddleheaded lefty writing the crap that passes for journalism nowadays. Assange is not a journalist, nor is he a reporter. He's merely a self delusional a$$hole who is as much a narcissist as barry the muslim; one of the intellectually inferior who seem to think that notoriety has something to do with achievemt or accomplishment. Hitler, Stalin, and the Rosenbergs were all notorious; but they didn't do anything positive that made them worth any more than dried pig crap in the barnyard.
JP| 12.20.10 @ 1:52PM
Assange isn't an American citizen. You cannot prosecute him as an American -especially if he didn't commit his crimes on US soil. The real culprits are the openly gay, ant-American PFC Manning (who just so happened to hold a TS-SCI Clearence despite his life style and low regard for his chain-of-command), his CO, and the people who granted him his clearences.
And the DOD has had the Cyber Command for sometime now. Why didn't they shut Assange down months ago? If what he did was so damaging, why couldn't Obama or Hillary get the Aussies or the Europeans to toe the line?
Something doesn't quite ring true in all of this.
MikeD| 12.20.10 @ 3:04PM
What has happened to manning? He seems to have disappeared. I wouldn't be surprised if barry the muslim had him sequestered somewhere in anticipation of getting a medal. What makes barry the muslim any less of an America Hater than manning, or assange, for that matter. We are in desperate need of a large number of rails; tons of feathers, and gallons and gallons of hot tar to immerse barry the muslim, pelosi, reid, durbin, and the thousands of other left democrats who deserve nothing more than tar and feathers. (I'd suggest other, more appropriate treatments, but there appear to be laws against advocating those kinds of things for high ranking apparatchiks of the current regime.)
Too Many Tims| 12.20.10 @ 4:21PM
We should be calling this the SHAME DUCK session.
nadaer | 12.20.10 @ 10:42PM
Bradbury had similar instincts. The life of an urbanite never suited him. And whatever virtues he found in the US resided in our rural areas. I will never forget the chapter in the Martian Chronicles which depicted the homecoming of one of the Martian astronauts. Bradbury piled on the small town kitsch in large measure. And Led Tube it was only at the very end did the astronaut realize too late - that it was all an illusion perpetrated by the Martians. I always thought that chapter was a cruel one. But years later I realized that perhaps it was Bradbury's own way of mourning our lost culture.Led Display While I outgrew sci-fi literature I still appreciate Bradbury's skills.
GENE HAUBER| 12.21.10 @ 5:17PM
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING JED HAS SAID,
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING ALONG THE SAME SPIRIT OF WHAT IS RIGHT EVEN THO THE SUBJECT IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
A CORRECT READING OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TELLS US THAT EVIDENCE IMPROPERLY OBTAINED CAN BE USED TO PROSECUTE, BUT THAT THE COURT CAN ALSO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE IN A LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY THE DEFENDANT, NOT TO SUPPRESS THE EVIDENCE, BUT ONLY FOR DAMAGES IF THE SEARCH PRODUCES NOTHING.
THE EVIDENCE OF GUILT IS NOT TO BE DISMISSED, EVER. IT'S THERE FOR ALL TO SEE.
IF THE COURTS WISH TO PUNISH ANYBODY FOR WHAT THEY TERM AS "AN ILLEGAL SEARCH AND SEIZURE", THEN IT SHOULD PUNISH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT DOES IT, NOT THE PUBLIC.
LET'S GET THE ASININITY OUT OF OUR LAWS!