Quote of the Day -- U.S. Attorney Jim Letten, in response to an observation by defense counsel that the defendant stole only close to $1M from the Housing Authority of New Orleans (where he was CFO for three years) when he had the opportunity to abscond with so much more, remarked:
"I'm not ready to pin any medals on anyone for stealing less than he could have."The judge was also less than impressed by the defendant's restraint of his larcenous tendencies. Let's keep that in mind when Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters come up for trial in the House next month.
Nobel Peace Prize -- and the winner is . . . Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese dissident and campaigner for democracy imprisoned for the crime of subversion!
The Chinese government was not pleased. The AP reported:
"Anticipating the award, Chinese circumvented Internet controls and called friends overseas to learn the news. Supporters and friends gathered outside Liu's central Beijing apartment, where his wife was kept inside by police. At a park, a civil rights lawyer, a retired official-turned-blogger and a dozen other people cheered and waved placards saying "Long Live Freedom of Speech." The demonstrators were later taken away by police."President Obama observed:
"Last year, I noted that so many others who have received the award had sacrificed so much more than I."
Well, that's a big ol' Duh.
The young president also:
"[P]raised China for its stunning 30 years of transformative economic growth. 'But this award reminds us that political reform has not kept pace, and that the basic human rights of every man, woman and child must be respected,' Obama said. [emphasis mine]Hmmm. Political reform. Isn't that essentially the same thing as fundamental transformation? Maybe the young president's gentle chiding was simply a wink-wink, nudge-nudge, high-five between comrades.
When the young president has accomplished his transformative policies and commandeered all facets of the economy, maybe we here in the good ol' U. S. of A. can see our internet shut down, spouses put under house arrest, and demonstrators for Freedom of Speech hauled off by the police, too!
At least the Nobel judges bestowed the award this year to someone who had actually done something to promote peaceful existence instead of to someone who could maybe do something in the future.
Good post, Moogie. I have a feeling that after the foolish choices of the past decade, the Nobel committee may actually be feeling a bit of personal shame (if it is somehow possible for the shameless).
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just embarrassment. Dunno. But, we will not look a gift horse in the mouth. As to the ObozO "wink wink" deal...the guy is toothless. But you know what?
No President since Reagan has REALLY preached the evils of communism. The Chinese have seemed to work around the old "Levis" strategy that worked so well in Eastern Europe.
And, we have aided them with our economic partnerships. I guess what I'm saying is lip service is about all that we can expect from our leaders. But, you are right. I'm sure ObozO would love to head a gubmint like the chinks do.
And what's really scary, is that he has a lot of it already in place. It seems a little more Russkie, though.
ReplyDeleteFor a Harvard-educated guy, he seems to be sadly deficient in the "learning from history" department.
Maybe the young president's gentle chiding was simply a wink-wink, nudge-nudge, high-five between comrades.
ReplyDeleteYup. Forgive me my cynicism but I think that's exactly it.
As for the Nobel Peace Prize? Worthless in most cases and downright hazardous to people's health in others. A lot of Chinese are gonna get their heads cracked or do some serious time in a place where one is not likely to survive. I often wonder if the Norwegians think about that.
I often thinki the Norwegians don't think at all, Buck. Like you, I'm pretty concerned for the winner's wife and friends.
ReplyDelete