Gen. Stanley McChrystal was supposed to be President Obama's ace in the hole in Afghanistan, the man who would steer allied troops in a new direction in the war-torn country. Defense Secretary Robert Gates praised McChrystal's "tremendous" skills and the "fresh thinking" that he'd bring to the job when he was put in charge of U.S. and NATO forces in May.
21 family members lost in tsunami
BABY swept from grandmother's arms was just one of 21 members of one family killed.
Elizabeth Smart Says She Was Raped Repeatedly, Calls Alleged Kidnapper 'Evil'
SALT LAKE CITY — Elizabeth Smart said Thursday that the man accused of snatching her from her Utah bedroom seven years ago, when she was a 14-year-old girl, raped her repeatedly -- three or four times a day -- during the nine months he held her captive as one of his wives.
Blackie Fahda caged in Tonga
ONE of the states most wanted men - Mohammed Blackie Fahda - has been arrested in the tiny south pacific nation of Tonga on immigration charges.
NSW 'failing to retain police'
THE NSW Government is failing to retain police in the force, with 81 officers leaving in August alone, the opposition says.
Man detained after Premier struck in face
STATE leader suffers bruising and cut after being set upon by a man during a business function.
Teen killed by tumour not cancer vaccine
GIRL who died hours after receiving cervical cancer jab had a malignant tumour in her chest.
Vegemite sales dip led to cheesy spread
KRAFT says cheese-blend experiment followed falling sales, especially among immigrants.
=== Journalists Corner ===
Exclusive: Dan Rather
His multi-million dollar lawsuit against CBS was thrown out of court. Now, he's appealing the judge's decision. Dan speaks out on his fight!
===
The Great Debate!
Inside the U.S. & Iran's face-to-face meeting! Who won the first round of talks? Bill gets answers.
===
The Health Care Hustle
As the house battles over mandatory coverage, do Americans understand what's really at stake? Karl Rove breaks down the politics behind the overhaul.
=== Comments ===
Will Far Left Bring President Obama Down?
By Bill O'Reilly
Barack Obama won the election by running to the center and convincing many Americans that he was a moderate liberal, not a far-left guy.
But that was then.
Now the president seems to be intimidated by the radical left, which is urging him to champion extremely liberal causes. Guys like Michael Moore are actually lecturing the president:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL MOORE, DIRECTOR: You are one of us. You come from us. This is not the time to dessert us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right.
MOORE: This is not the time to be the representative for the private health insurance industry. We need you to stand up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stand up.
MOORE: Stand up. Be bold. Be brave. Be strong. We've got your back.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We got it.
MOORE: And we want universal health care for every single American, and we want it controlled in a single-payer system like the Medicare and the VA and all the other socialized medicine that we have in this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Moore is running around promoting his new film, which is an attack on capitalism. Of course to get the movie financed, Moore had to use the capitalistic system. Life is strange.
So what must President Obama think when he hears people like Moore telling him what to do? I'd love to ask the president that question.
In addition to socialized medicine, the far left wants out of Afghanistan and the president seems vexed on what to do there. Is he listening to the radical voices on foreign policy? I hope not.
The nutty far-left group Center for American Progress, run by Obama adviser John Podesta, is calling for a big tax hike, a value-added tax to fund entitlements. Of course, Barack Obama promised not to raise taxes on working Americans and a VAT would do that, but the radical left does not care.
After the ACORN scandal broke and Congress cut off funding, the president was asked what he thought. He said he didn't know much about it. Hard to believe. He should have excoriated ACORN, but he did not.
At this point, it is impossible to know exactly how much influence the committed left has with the president. But based on health care and his tentative Afghan and Iran positions, it looks like Barack Obama is listening to the Podestas and Moores of the world.
If that is true, he will be a one-term president. No question.
===
GENTLE WARMTH AND MILD PRECIPITATION
Tim Blair
Kevin Rudd’s favourite songs include:
Fire and Rain by John Denver
Whoa! He prefers the wimpified cover version of a wimp classic. James Taylor’s original is possibly too raw. - there is a magnificent story behind the Taylor version .. I'll relate it later. - ed.
===
MALCOLLISION
Tim Blair
Following yesterday’s comedy:
Malcolm Turnbull is on a collision course with his own back bench after staking his leadership on a demand that they back his climate change strategy. Several MPs immediately refused to do so.
Turnbull lost public support when he went in too hard and now he’s losing party support by being too soft. A new career beckons: What Diplomatic Post Should Kevin Rudd Offer Malcolm Turnbull? (Via Garth Godsman.) Current voting favours “Special Envoy To Her Majesty The Queen”. Moving on, readers are invited this morning to discuss the conservative response to emissions scams with Tony Abbott, who writes:
Right now, the polls show that voters support an ETS but don’t really understand what it means. That could easily change once voters work out that it amounts to a new tax every bit as far reaching as the GST.
Click at 9.30am. - people damning Mr Turnbull for what they praise in Rudd - ed.
===
WHITEY WALKS
Tim Blair
George Galloway reveals why so many Western representatives walked out during Mahmoud Imeanajihad’s UN speech: raaaaacism! From 1.56:
It’s all the white people who walk out …
It’s all the countries like Canada, like Australia, like Britain and like the United States who walk out on Ahmadinejad’s speeches.
I predict a big future for this stunning new tactic of dismissing any criticism from whitey. In other British out-walking news, Gordon Brown finds himself tethered:
The Prime Minister attempted to storm out of the Sky interview but when he stood up his lapel microphone was still attached, leaving him tethered to the spot.
It was then pointed out that he was due to conduct a BBC interview from the same chair.
Later footage appeared of Mr Brown walking into a door ...
Common mistake for young players. The door presents a crucial challenge to those attempting a successful walk-out.
===
BEHAVE
Tim Blair
After 60 years of communism, China finally marches into the Austin Powers era:
Joe Hildebrand – permanently in the Steve Austin era ("a man barely alive") – has further thoughts.
===
LOVE THE WARMING
Tim Blair
Besides all of its other fine qualities, global warming might also kill the Olympics:
Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara warned on Wednesday the 2016 Olympics could be the last Games, with global warming an immediate threat to mankind …
“It could be that the 2016 Games are the last Olympics in the history of mankind,” Ishihara told reporters [ed: cheering reporters, surely] at a Tokyo 2016 press event ahead of the vote.
“Global warming is getting worse. We have to come up with measures without which Olympic Games could not last long.
“Scientists have said we have passed the point of no return,” said Ishihara.
Scientists say a lot of stuff. Still, it’s kind of difficult to play Olympic hockey without a stick.
===
GET OFF YER BIKE
Tim Blair
Magda Szubanski deals with the cycling menace.
UPDATE. Sadly, Madga has backed down:
“The way I expressed myself was appalling and thoughtless. And I sincerely apologise,” Szubanski said.
They got to her.
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