The Occasional Observer

Yes, you DID read that right.

Linky.

Here's the intro:

President Barack Obama wanted to tell a hesitant America why he launched a military assault in Libya, and he wanted to describe it on his terms — limited, sensible, moral and backed by international partners with the shared goal of protecting Libyans from a ruthless despot.

Trouble is, the war he described Monday doesn't quite match the fight the United States is in.

Wow. This is interesting.

Bill Kristol smacks down the O for saying running China is "easier" than the US:

“Mr. Obama has told people that it would be so much easier to be the president of China. As one official put it, ‘No one is scrutinizing Hu Jintao’s words in Tahrir Square.’”

Mr. Obama is right.

If you’re president of China, people around the world who are fighting for freedom don’t really expect you to help. If you’re president of China, you don’t have to put up with annoying off-year congressional elections, and then negotiate your budget with a bunch of gun-and-religion-clinging congressmen and senators. If you’re president of China, you can fund your national public radio to your heart’s content. And if you’re president of China, when you host a conference on bullying in schools, people take you seriously.

Unfortunately for him and us, Barack Obama is president of the United States. That job brings with it certain special responsibilities. It’s a tough job—maybe tougher than being president of China. But Barack Obama ran for president of the United States. Maybe he should start behaving as one.

in the midst of today's events, but you can't even make this stuff up:

In a somber 40-minute address to Moscow State University students that generated more giggles than rounds of applause, Biden tried to bash Russia for putting Khodorkovsky behind bars on what many believe are politically motivated charges.

At least that was the intent.

What came out was one of the more sensitive moments in recent Russia-US relations in which the entire hall seemed ready to help the desperately struggling US vice president pronounce Khodorkovsky's name.

"Over the past few months our administration has spoken out against allegations of misconduct in the trial of... of, uh... the, um... excuse me... Khodor... Kovinsky," said Biden, almost barking out the last word.

Condolences to our Japanese friends. This scope of this catastrophe leaves me staggered.

As if the outrageous actions of Kathleen Rice weren't enough, now the list of names of legal gun owners is being released in Illinois.

I have mixed feelings about my name being released as a gun owner. On one hand, it's a bit of an invasion of privacy. On the other hand, maybe my house will be avoided because I'm known to own a gun.

As a follow up to one of our blog posts from three years ago, it was reported a couple of days ago that Cpl. Frank Buckles passed away.

Sad news. An American patriot, most notable for his longevity, cut also for his selflessness and love of country. Luckily, these last two traits were widely shared among his contemporaries.

And that is the only reason to respect him. Here's your quote of the day:

"They're sitting on the money, they're using it for their own -- they're putting it someplace else with no interest in helping you with our life, with that money. We've allowed them to take that. That's not theirs, that's a national resource, that's ours. We all have this, we all benefit from this or we all suffer as a result of not having it," Michael Moore told Laura Flanders of GRITtv.

Bold emphasis is mine--my disbelief, my horror, my, er, disbelief. Did I mention disbelief?