Reuters reports today on a telephone conversation between Republican veep candidate Paul Ryan and American evangelical voters last night, in which Mr. Ryan said President Barack Hussein Obama’s path for the future of the United States compromises Judeo-Christian values.
Speaking to the Faith and Freedom Coalition, a leading group of Christian conservatives, Ryan attacked Obama’s vision in stark terms.
He called Obama's "plan" [Is hope a plan? Ed.] for the USA "a dangerous path... It’s a path that grows government, restricts freedom and liberty, and compromises those values, those Judeo-Christian, Western civilization values that made us such a great and exceptional nation in the first place."
“He was talking about issues like religious liberty and ‘Obamacare’ – topics he has mentioned frequently during the campaign,” said Romney campaign spokesman Michael Steel. During the campaign, Mr. Ryan has said repeatedly that the President's policies, particularly his healthcare restructuring "plan", violate the religious freedoms for which Americans have fought and died for more than two centuries.
In last night's phone call, Mr. Ryan spoke as well of the importance in his life of his Roman Catholic faith. Today he concludes the campaign in his home state of Wisconsin. A rally will be held in Milwaukee late tonight.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Americans! What choice have you got?
Here's the way Walt sees it...
Way back in 2008, Barack Hussein Obama promised Americans "hope and change". Turned out (a) hope is not a plan and (b) "change" can mean change for the worse as well as for the better.
Can the United States of America really stand another four years of Obama's divisive but indecisive maladministration? Is it really worth enduring another four years to prove that America doesn't disciminate against Muslims and people of colour?
Do YOU really want four more years of this? Then go ahead and vote for Obama.
Mitt Romney promises "real change". The only real change Walt has seen, so far, is the change in Mitt's policy positions, from one day to the next.
What Walt would like to see is real choice! But I can't advocate writing in the name of the one politician who offered clear policy alternatives -- Ron Paul. Casting your ballot for Congressman Paul or any fringe candidate will harm the chances of getting rid of the most feckless president America has seen since James Buchanan.
In at least nine key swing states, every vote counts... REALLY! For the sake of America's future, vote for Romney.
Way back in 2008, Barack Hussein Obama promised Americans "hope and change". Turned out (a) hope is not a plan and (b) "change" can mean change for the worse as well as for the better.
Can the United States of America really stand another four years of Obama's divisive but indecisive maladministration? Is it really worth enduring another four years to prove that America doesn't disciminate against Muslims and people of colour?
Do YOU really want four more years of this? Then go ahead and vote for Obama.
Mitt Romney promises "real change". The only real change Walt has seen, so far, is the change in Mitt's policy positions, from one day to the next.
What Walt would like to see is real choice! But I can't advocate writing in the name of the one politician who offered clear policy alternatives -- Ron Paul. Casting your ballot for Congressman Paul or any fringe candidate will harm the chances of getting rid of the most feckless president America has seen since James Buchanan.
In at least nine key swing states, every vote counts... REALLY! For the sake of America's future, vote for Romney.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Can Romney do it? Walt's state-by-state analysis and predictions
The pressure is building! Walt's acolytes, followers and casual readers are waiting for guidance on how to bet. The barbershop is closed today so it's a good time to sit quietly and do the numbers, state by state.
There are 538 votes to be cast in the Electoral College. The magic number is 270. From his vantage point near Fort Mudge, Walt can see nine states with a total of 110 electoral votes that are "in play" -- too close to call.
Not included in the remaining 41 states (and DC) is Utah. I'm giving that one to Romney because [They already know that! Ed.] ...and Idaho for the same reason. [Get on with it!! Ed.]
OK. Also not included are New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. There's been a lot of pissing and moaning in the lamestream media about federal aid not getting through to the victims of Sandy quickly enough. Obama's presidential photo ops amidst the devastation looked fine, they say, but a lot of voters will be disaffected by this demonstration that the Prez doesn't have all that much control over the federal administration, and will get revenge by voting for the Inevitable Mitt. Rubbish. Anyone who thinks there was ever any chance of NY, NJ and CT going Republican is seriously deluded.
Which brings us to Pennsylvania and Michigan, the bottom of the rust bucket. Gentle reader, please don't be misled by the lamestream media hype. Those states aren't in doubt. Obama will sweet Philthydelphia and the rest of PA doesn't matter. 20 electoral votes for Obama.
As for MI, the name "Romney" is remembered there, and not fondly. When they think "Romney" Michiganders [and Michigeese. Ed.] think cars. When they think cars they think American Motors, and, more recently, the younger Romney's statements about letting the US auto industry die, if that were the will of the free market. Obama's got him on that one. Another 16 votes for Hussein.
So, with nine states left to call, Walt's abacus shows totals of 237 for the incumbent and only 191 for the wannabe. Romney has to find 79 electoral votes somewhere to win, Obama only 33.
Look south, folks. And keep in mind that race is still a deciding factor. Frankly, Walt was surprised, in 2008, when American voters handed the keys to the car to a black (or half-black) man. Well, OK, the point was made and America is now a "post-racist" society, right?
Wrong! A study by researchers at Stanford University and the Universities of Chicago and Michigan, released last week by AP, shows that although "racist" views are quieter today, they're still echoing in the minds of voters.
"Anti-black sentiment seems to have increased slightly in America over the course of Mr. Obama's term," the report says, "and this sentiment may be shaping evaluations of (his) presidency as well as the likelihood that individuals will vote for him in 2012."
Leaving aside Dade County, Florida is still pretty much a southern state, in its attitudes, and North Carolina decidedly so. Walt predicts they'll both go Republican, although FL may be very close, once again. 44 electoral votes for Mitt.
I will now contradict myself by awarding Iowa (6 votes) and New Hampshire (4) to Obama. I'd have thought the Iowans, in particular, would know which end of the straw to stick in their mouths, but polls in one of the whitest of all states show the Prez with a pretty solid lead. NH seems to be affected by its proximity to Massachusetts, where Romney is oddly unloved in spite of a government-mandated health plan that looked not unlike Obamacare.
On to Wisconsin, with its substantial Catholic population. Can a native son carry his state for the Republicans? Walt thinks so, but not because Paul Ryan is as close as you can get to being a real practising Catholic. Rather, it's because Ryan and Romney are not Muslim.
A recent Pew poll found that less than half of voters surveyed believe that Obama is Christian, and 17% believe he's actually a Muslim. The poll also showed that the number of Republicans who believe Obama is Muslim has doubled to 30% since the last election. His bitterest foes keep calling him "Hussein", because that is his (middle) name.
The underlying meaning is that Obama is an outsider, a foreigner in his attitudes and outlook, if not by birth. He is seen in much of the USA as basically un-American, even anti-American. That's why his tepid, even grovelling response to the Benghazi terrorist attack won't go away. 10 more votes in the Republican column.
If you're keeping score, it's now 247 to 245, favour Obama, with just four states -- Colorado, Nevada, Virginia and Ohio -- left.
You'd think Nevada would be a lock for Romney, what with its substantial Mormon population and wild west, free enterprise character. But you'd be ignoring Las Vegas and its large number of Latino voters, who don't much like the Republican stance on immigration and related issues. Latest polls put NV in the Democrat column, and who am I to argue. 6 for Obama.
Giving Colorado (9 votes) also to Obama -- just because -- raises the Democrat total to 262. So it all comes down to Virginia (13 votes) and Ohio (18). Walt thinks VA is likely to go Republican, since it, too, is at heart a southern state. But Romney still has to win Ohio before he can start measuring the drapes in the Oval Office.
It has been pointed out dozens of times within the last 24 hours alone that no Republican has ever been elected president without winning Ohio. Which is not to say that no Republican has ever been elected president. Walt says... ... ... ... still too early to make the call.
There are 538 votes to be cast in the Electoral College. The magic number is 270. From his vantage point near Fort Mudge, Walt can see nine states with a total of 110 electoral votes that are "in play" -- too close to call.
Not included in the remaining 41 states (and DC) is Utah. I'm giving that one to Romney because [They already know that! Ed.] ...and Idaho for the same reason. [Get on with it!! Ed.]
OK. Also not included are New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. There's been a lot of pissing and moaning in the lamestream media about federal aid not getting through to the victims of Sandy quickly enough. Obama's presidential photo ops amidst the devastation looked fine, they say, but a lot of voters will be disaffected by this demonstration that the Prez doesn't have all that much control over the federal administration, and will get revenge by voting for the Inevitable Mitt. Rubbish. Anyone who thinks there was ever any chance of NY, NJ and CT going Republican is seriously deluded.
Which brings us to Pennsylvania and Michigan, the bottom of the rust bucket. Gentle reader, please don't be misled by the lamestream media hype. Those states aren't in doubt. Obama will sweet Philthydelphia and the rest of PA doesn't matter. 20 electoral votes for Obama.
As for MI, the name "Romney" is remembered there, and not fondly. When they think "Romney" Michiganders [and Michigeese. Ed.] think cars. When they think cars they think American Motors, and, more recently, the younger Romney's statements about letting the US auto industry die, if that were the will of the free market. Obama's got him on that one. Another 16 votes for Hussein.
So, with nine states left to call, Walt's abacus shows totals of 237 for the incumbent and only 191 for the wannabe. Romney has to find 79 electoral votes somewhere to win, Obama only 33.
Look south, folks. And keep in mind that race is still a deciding factor. Frankly, Walt was surprised, in 2008, when American voters handed the keys to the car to a black (or half-black) man. Well, OK, the point was made and America is now a "post-racist" society, right?
Wrong! A study by researchers at Stanford University and the Universities of Chicago and Michigan, released last week by AP, shows that although "racist" views are quieter today, they're still echoing in the minds of voters.
"Anti-black sentiment seems to have increased slightly in America over the course of Mr. Obama's term," the report says, "and this sentiment may be shaping evaluations of (his) presidency as well as the likelihood that individuals will vote for him in 2012."
Leaving aside Dade County, Florida is still pretty much a southern state, in its attitudes, and North Carolina decidedly so. Walt predicts they'll both go Republican, although FL may be very close, once again. 44 electoral votes for Mitt.
I will now contradict myself by awarding Iowa (6 votes) and New Hampshire (4) to Obama. I'd have thought the Iowans, in particular, would know which end of the straw to stick in their mouths, but polls in one of the whitest of all states show the Prez with a pretty solid lead. NH seems to be affected by its proximity to Massachusetts, where Romney is oddly unloved in spite of a government-mandated health plan that looked not unlike Obamacare.
On to Wisconsin, with its substantial Catholic population. Can a native son carry his state for the Republicans? Walt thinks so, but not because Paul Ryan is as close as you can get to being a real practising Catholic. Rather, it's because Ryan and Romney are not Muslim.
A recent Pew poll found that less than half of voters surveyed believe that Obama is Christian, and 17% believe he's actually a Muslim. The poll also showed that the number of Republicans who believe Obama is Muslim has doubled to 30% since the last election. His bitterest foes keep calling him "Hussein", because that is his (middle) name.
The underlying meaning is that Obama is an outsider, a foreigner in his attitudes and outlook, if not by birth. He is seen in much of the USA as basically un-American, even anti-American. That's why his tepid, even grovelling response to the Benghazi terrorist attack won't go away. 10 more votes in the Republican column.
If you're keeping score, it's now 247 to 245, favour Obama, with just four states -- Colorado, Nevada, Virginia and Ohio -- left.
You'd think Nevada would be a lock for Romney, what with its substantial Mormon population and wild west, free enterprise character. But you'd be ignoring Las Vegas and its large number of Latino voters, who don't much like the Republican stance on immigration and related issues. Latest polls put NV in the Democrat column, and who am I to argue. 6 for Obama.
Giving Colorado (9 votes) also to Obama -- just because -- raises the Democrat total to 262. So it all comes down to Virginia (13 votes) and Ohio (18). Walt thinks VA is likely to go Republican, since it, too, is at heart a southern state. But Romney still has to win Ohio before he can start measuring the drapes in the Oval Office.
It has been pointed out dozens of times within the last 24 hours alone that no Republican has ever been elected president without winning Ohio. Which is not to say that no Republican has ever been elected president. Walt says... ... ... ... still too early to make the call.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Will the Big Blow win it for Obama?
There's an old joke [Here it comes. Ed.] About two Jewish clothiers lying in the sun at Miami Beach talking about how they got the money to have a vacation during the busiest season of the year. The first says his trip is paid for out of the proceeds of an insurance claim for a fire. The second says he got insurance money too, but for a flood. The first asks, "How to you start a flood?!"
I was thinking about that as I watched the TV coverage of the "October Surprise" -- that would be Sandy -- and the lamestream pundits' comments (echoed by the Donald) that the hurricane would tip the electoral balance in favour of Obama. That, they say, is because it gave him the chance to "look presidential", show that he was in charge of things and appear strong and decisive. Rather the opposite, then, of the image he projected during what I call the "September Surprise", meaning the Benghazi bumble.
In the aftermath of the Big Blow, two other big blows -- NJ governor Christie and NYC mayor Bloomberg -- announced their support for the Prez. Why? Because, Hizzoner said, he'll be better than Mitt at dealing with "global warming". Walt says, hold on a minute... Or several minutes!
There's something besides the weather and the streets of New York and Newark that needs clearing up. PuhLEEZE, gentle readers... "Global warming" (if there is such a thing) did not cause Hurricane Sandy!
According to Scott Sutherland, writing in Geekquinox, a Yahoo! news blog, global warming may have been a minor contributing factor, but "to corner weather and climate experts every time some weather event happens, and force them to answer the question 'did climate change cause this?' is, at best, naive, and at worst, manipulative."
Here, Sutherland says, is what we know for sure. The Gulf Stream was warmer this year than last. And sea surface temperatures have increased along the coast of the US Northeast, by about half a degree Celsius on average over the longer trend, and by a degree or more on the shorter trend. These higher sea surface temperatures would have provided more energy to Sandy, allowing the storm to maintain its strength further north than normal and possibly contributing to its overall size and extent.
Also, the sea level around New York City has risen by roughly 30 cm in the past 100 years. Sea level rise is linked to climate change, as ocean temperatures rise (causing the water to expand) and more polar ice melts (adding more water to the oceans). This rise in sea level would have contributed to the storm surge from Sandy.
And guess what, folks! No matter what the politicians say, the sea level is going to continue to rise, by about 3 mm per year, no matter who is president! Anyone who thinks that Al O'Bama is going to be able to hold back the waves, like a latter-day King Canute, is crazy!
Now then, about the terrorist attack on Benghazi... The "unfortunate incident" on 9/11 was not a misguided popular demonstration against a small and amateurish video which was perceived to be anti-Muslim. It was a terrorist attack, planned in advance, of which the Obama administration had prior warning.
In all the fuss about who scored the better debating points, the President's evasiveness on this point has not received due attention and examination. Senior Republicans are rightly accusing the President and the White House of covering up their wilful ignorance or at least incompetence in dealing with anti-American terrorism. And that's a fact.
Senator John McCain and other top Republicans have repeatedly accused the White House of evasion for refusing to answer questions about events at the US consulate in Benghazi that led to the deaths of four Americans. That's a fact too.
Here's what Mr. McCain told CBS recently. "This tragedy turned into a debacle and massive cover-up or massive incompetence in Libya is having an impact on the voters because of their view of the commander-in-chief.... It is now the worst cover-up or incompetence I have ever observed in my life. Somebody the other day said to me, 'Well, this is as bad as Watergate.' [But] nobody died in Watergate."
So, the big question this weekend is, will the average voter's ignorance of the facts, and the distortion of the facts by the Democrats and the lamestream media, save Obama's bacon on Tuesday?
Faithful readers of WWW are doubtless waiting for Walt to hazard a guess. (Lifetime pct .990.) I'm afraid you'll have to wait until Monday. Who knows? There could be a "November surprise" in the offing.
I was thinking about that as I watched the TV coverage of the "October Surprise" -- that would be Sandy -- and the lamestream pundits' comments (echoed by the Donald) that the hurricane would tip the electoral balance in favour of Obama. That, they say, is because it gave him the chance to "look presidential", show that he was in charge of things and appear strong and decisive. Rather the opposite, then, of the image he projected during what I call the "September Surprise", meaning the Benghazi bumble.
In the aftermath of the Big Blow, two other big blows -- NJ governor Christie and NYC mayor Bloomberg -- announced their support for the Prez. Why? Because, Hizzoner said, he'll be better than Mitt at dealing with "global warming". Walt says, hold on a minute... Or several minutes!
There's something besides the weather and the streets of New York and Newark that needs clearing up. PuhLEEZE, gentle readers... "Global warming" (if there is such a thing) did not cause Hurricane Sandy!
According to Scott Sutherland, writing in Geekquinox, a Yahoo! news blog, global warming may have been a minor contributing factor, but "to corner weather and climate experts every time some weather event happens, and force them to answer the question 'did climate change cause this?' is, at best, naive, and at worst, manipulative."
Here, Sutherland says, is what we know for sure. The Gulf Stream was warmer this year than last. And sea surface temperatures have increased along the coast of the US Northeast, by about half a degree Celsius on average over the longer trend, and by a degree or more on the shorter trend. These higher sea surface temperatures would have provided more energy to Sandy, allowing the storm to maintain its strength further north than normal and possibly contributing to its overall size and extent.
Also, the sea level around New York City has risen by roughly 30 cm in the past 100 years. Sea level rise is linked to climate change, as ocean temperatures rise (causing the water to expand) and more polar ice melts (adding more water to the oceans). This rise in sea level would have contributed to the storm surge from Sandy.
And guess what, folks! No matter what the politicians say, the sea level is going to continue to rise, by about 3 mm per year, no matter who is president! Anyone who thinks that Al O'Bama is going to be able to hold back the waves, like a latter-day King Canute, is crazy!
Now then, about the terrorist attack on Benghazi... The "unfortunate incident" on 9/11 was not a misguided popular demonstration against a small and amateurish video which was perceived to be anti-Muslim. It was a terrorist attack, planned in advance, of which the Obama administration had prior warning.
In all the fuss about who scored the better debating points, the President's evasiveness on this point has not received due attention and examination. Senior Republicans are rightly accusing the President and the White House of covering up their wilful ignorance or at least incompetence in dealing with anti-American terrorism. And that's a fact.
Senator John McCain and other top Republicans have repeatedly accused the White House of evasion for refusing to answer questions about events at the US consulate in Benghazi that led to the deaths of four Americans. That's a fact too.
Here's what Mr. McCain told CBS recently. "This tragedy turned into a debacle and massive cover-up or massive incompetence in Libya is having an impact on the voters because of their view of the commander-in-chief.... It is now the worst cover-up or incompetence I have ever observed in my life. Somebody the other day said to me, 'Well, this is as bad as Watergate.' [But] nobody died in Watergate."
So, the big question this weekend is, will the average voter's ignorance of the facts, and the distortion of the facts by the Democrats and the lamestream media, save Obama's bacon on Tuesday?
Faithful readers of WWW are doubtless waiting for Walt to hazard a guess. (Lifetime pct .990.) I'm afraid you'll have to wait until Monday. Who knows? There could be a "November surprise" in the offing.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Spaghetti
For several years, a man had been having an affair with an Italian woman. One night, she confided to him that she was pregnant.
Not wanting to ruin his reputation or his marriage, he paid her a large sum of money if she would go back to Italy to secretly have the child. Also, if she stayed in Italy to raise the child, he would provide child support until the child turned 18.
She agreed, but asked how he would know when the baby was born. To keep it discrete, he told her to simply mail him a postcard, and write “Spaghetti” on the back when the child was born. He would then arrange for the child support payments to begin.
One day, about eight months later, he came home to his confused wife.
“Honey,” she said, “You received a very strange postcard today.”
“Oh, just give it to me and I’ll explain it later,” he replied.
The wife obeyed and watched as her husband read the card, turned white, and fainted.
On the card was written:
Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti.
Three with meatballs, two without.
Send extra sauce.
Thanks to the elusive (and non-Italian) Agent 1.
Not wanting to ruin his reputation or his marriage, he paid her a large sum of money if she would go back to Italy to secretly have the child. Also, if she stayed in Italy to raise the child, he would provide child support until the child turned 18.
She agreed, but asked how he would know when the baby was born. To keep it discrete, he told her to simply mail him a postcard, and write “Spaghetti” on the back when the child was born. He would then arrange for the child support payments to begin.
One day, about eight months later, he came home to his confused wife.
“Honey,” she said, “You received a very strange postcard today.”
“Oh, just give it to me and I’ll explain it later,” he replied.
The wife obeyed and watched as her husband read the card, turned white, and fainted.
On the card was written:
Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti.
Three with meatballs, two without.
Send extra sauce.
Thanks to the elusive (and non-Italian) Agent 1.
Muslim wife-killer pleads self-defence
With all the commotion about Sandy and the presidential election, it's not easy to remember that there are other events unfolding. Like the trials of third world immigrants accused of murdering their wives or sisters or daughters or all of the above to "preserve their honour".
One such is Peer Khairi, an Afghan Muslim who immigrated to Canada by way of India, and allegedly cut off his wife's head -- or nearly so, as he couldn't sever the spinal column -- a few years back. He's on trial, at last, in Toronto this week, and yesterday took the stand in his own defence.
Why would a man attempt to decapitate his wife? (The decapitation didn't quite work, by the way, but he did succeed in killing her.) Khairi's first problem with Randjida was that she called him names -- "honourless" and a "cuckold" -- and he couldn't tolerate such insults any longer.
But on the occasion in question, Khairi told the court, it was worse than that. On that fateful day, she lunged at him with a knife -- for no reason, of course -- leaving him no choice but to slit her throat, stab her repeatedly, and let her bleed to death on their Toronto apartment floor while he called 911.
"I totally lost my control. I was not able to control myself," Khairi said, through a Dari interpreter (in spite of having been in Canada for close to a decade). He testified that "I was thinking about killing myself, not killing her." Why he didn't then start hacking away at himself went unexplained.
The trial continues today. Agent 3 is following the story and will let us know if Khairi comes up with a further or better excuse. Stay tuned.
One such is Peer Khairi, an Afghan Muslim who immigrated to Canada by way of India, and allegedly cut off his wife's head -- or nearly so, as he couldn't sever the spinal column -- a few years back. He's on trial, at last, in Toronto this week, and yesterday took the stand in his own defence.
Why would a man attempt to decapitate his wife? (The decapitation didn't quite work, by the way, but he did succeed in killing her.) Khairi's first problem with Randjida was that she called him names -- "honourless" and a "cuckold" -- and he couldn't tolerate such insults any longer.
But on the occasion in question, Khairi told the court, it was worse than that. On that fateful day, she lunged at him with a knife -- for no reason, of course -- leaving him no choice but to slit her throat, stab her repeatedly, and let her bleed to death on their Toronto apartment floor while he called 911.
"I totally lost my control. I was not able to control myself," Khairi said, through a Dari interpreter (in spite of having been in Canada for close to a decade). He testified that "I was thinking about killing myself, not killing her." Why he didn't then start hacking away at himself went unexplained.
The trial continues today. Agent 3 is following the story and will let us know if Khairi comes up with a further or better excuse. Stay tuned.
Swazi girls slip to third place in WWW hit parade
Ed. here. I've just finished reviewing the WWW readership stats for October. We know who's reading Walt... and why! And we know some of you just look at the pictures, especially the National Geographic-style picture accompanying "Where next? Swaziland next?", an article about misrule in Swaziland that appeared way back in April of 2011.
But here's a surprise. The article -- and accompanying photo of the nubile Swazi girls doing the reed dance -- has been at the top of the WWW hit list almost every week since it appeared... until now. Two days ago it slipped to second, and today finds it in third place!
I can't understand it. Are men no longer interested in T&A? Or is it possible that every horny teenager on the planet has looked at it and finished doing whatever it is they do?
Walt and I will take the high road and not post the picture again. Well, not this week, anyway.
But here's a surprise. The article -- and accompanying photo of the nubile Swazi girls doing the reed dance -- has been at the top of the WWW hit list almost every week since it appeared... until now. Two days ago it slipped to second, and today finds it in third place!
I can't understand it. Are men no longer interested in T&A? Or is it possible that every horny teenager on the planet has looked at it and finished doing whatever it is they do?
Walt and I will take the high road and not post the picture again. Well, not this week, anyway.
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