Al Gore Reads His Global Warming Poem To CNN Reporter

Dick Cheney: Obama Does Not Share That Belief of American Exceptionalism

"I think most of us believe and most presidents believe and talk about the truly exceptional nature of America. Our history, where we come from, our belief in our Constitutional values and principles. Our advocacy for freedom and democracy and the fact that we’ve provided it for millions of people all over the globe and so unselfishly. There’s never been a nation like the United States of America in world history. And, yet when you have a president that goes around and bows to his host and proceeds to apologize profusely for the United States, I find that deeply disturbing. That says to me there’s a guy who doesn’t fully understand or share that view of American exceptionalism that I think most of us believe in."

Journalism and Freedom

Government assistance is a greater threat to the press than any new technology.
By RUPERT MURDOCH | DECEMBER 8, 2009, 3:47 A.M. ET | Wall Street Journal

We are at a time when many news enterprises are shutting down or scaling back. No doubt you will hear some tell you that journalism is in dire shape, and the triumph of digital is to blame.

My message is just the opposite. The future of journalism is more promising than ever—limited only by editors and producers unwilling to fight for their readers and viewers, or government using its heavy hand either to overregulate or subsidize us.

From the beginning, newspapers have prospered for one reason: the trust that comes from representing their readers' interests and giving them the news that's important to them. That means covering the communities where they live, exposing government or business corruption, and standing up to the rich and powerful.
Technology now allows us to do this on a much greater scale. That means we have the means to reach billions of people who until now have had no honest or independent sources of the information they need to rise in society, hold their governments accountable, and pursue their needs and dreams.

Does this mean we are all going to succeed? Of course not. Some newspapers and news organizations will not adapt to the digital realities of our day—and they will fail. We should not blame technology for these failures. The future of journalism belongs to the bold, and the companies that prosper will be those that find new and better ways to meet the needs of their viewers, listeners, and readers.

read more

Shhh! Don’t confuse Reid with history while he’s playing the race card!

By Michelle Malkin • December 7, 2009 03:11 PM

It was the GOP that fought slavery and the Democrat Party that battled to preserve it.

It’s the Democrat Party, not the GOP, that boasts an ex-Klansman among its senior leaders.

But don’t confuse Harry Reid with history while he invokes slavery to lambaste the GOP for opposing the government-run health care takeover.

Details? Bah!

read more

Abortion re-emerges as top issue

Health care debate puts divisive topic at forefront
By Valerie Richardson | Tuesday, December 8, 2009 | Washington Times

Those who remember the 1980s must be experiencing deja vu: Meryl Streep is the toast of Hollywood, Michael Jackson's latest release debuted at the top of the charts, and abortion is the hot-button political topic in Washington.

The abortion issue never really went away, but it's back with a vengeance, driving the political debate on health care, jeopardizing the president's coalition on his centerpiece legislation and threatening to turn the tide of the 2010 elections.

That's not just the opinion of dedicated pro-life and pro-choice activists with an interest in puffing up the importance of their signature issue. Anyone in Washington who had forgotten about the issue's power to sway policy and shape debate can consider themselves reminded.

"I do believe that abortion turned out to be an unexpected and not entirely welcome addition to the health care debate," said Jennifer Duffy, senior political editor at the Cook Political Report, in an e-mail. "It changed the tone somewhat and has exposed fissures in both parties that have been dormant for several years."

read more

Obama and Democrat Leadership: Out of Touch and Desperate

by Heather Higgins | Posted Dec 8th 2009 at 7:23 am

President Obama’s meetings at the Senate on Sunday, much like his visit to Copenhagen this week, are not indicators of inevitability; they are portents of panic. The reports coming out of the closed door, Democrats-only, meeting of internal divisions that are still irreconcilable, despite the high rhetoric of historic moment, only make the point more vividly: can you say “desperation”?

The sensible Democrats know they are in trouble. They know the American people have lost confidence that the Administration and Congress share their priorities.

read more

EPA declares air a danger to human health

posted at 2:30 pm on December 7, 2009 by Ed Morrissey | Hot Air

For the first time ever, the Environmental Protection Agency has declared a naturally-occurring substance in the air a danger to human health. Carbon dioxide, which has existed as a major component of Earth’s atmosphere for billions of years — and which is necessary for plant growth — is now a declared pollutant. The determination gives the EPA wide-ranging authority over the operations of energy production and manufacturing.

read more

Copenhagen climate conference opens to dire warnings

By Richard Ingham and Marlowe Hood (AFP) – 4 hours ago

COPENHAGEN — A landmark conference on tackling climate change opened here on Monday, with negotiators from 192 countries aiming toward a deal to ward off global warming's potentially catastrophic effects.

The meeting will climax on December 18 with more than 100 heads of state or government in attendance.

Opening ceremonies began with a short film featuring children of the future facing an apocalypse of tempests and desert landscapes if world leaders failed to act today.

"There will be hundreds of millions of refugees," Rajendra Pachauri, head of the UN's panel of climate scientists, said in the film.

"Please help save the world," said a little girl, plaintively.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen told opening ceremonies that the world is looking to the conference to safeguard humanity.

read more

SNL and the White House dinner crashers