• Pinboard Links,  The Morning Flap

    The Morning Flap: January 2, 2013

    Drudge screencap Obama laughing over fiscal cliff deal

    These are my links for December 29th through January 2nd:

  • Brett Kimberlin,  Pinboard Links,  The Morning Flap

    The Morning Flap Featuring Brett Kimberlin for May 24, 2012

    Brett Kimberlin

    These are my links for May 23rd through May 24th:

  • Missile Defense,  Russia

    Obama’s Russia Reset: Russia Threatens Strike on Missile Defense Sites

    europeanmissileshield Poll Watch: 31 Per Cent Agree With Obamas Decision to Kill Missile Defense for Poland, Czech   Russia Stands Pat

    So much for President Obama’s reset of Russian foreign policy.

    Russia’s most senior military officer said Thursday that Moscow would preemptively strike and destroy U.S.-led NATO missile defense sites in Eastern Europe if talks with Washington about the developing system continue to stall.

    “A decision to use destructive force preemptively will be taken if the situation worsens,” Russian Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov said at an international missile defense conference in Moscow attended by senior U.S. and NATO officials.

    The threat comes as talks about the missile defense system, which the U.S. and its allies insist is aimed at Iranian missiles, appear to have stalled.

    “We have not been able to find mutually-acceptable solutions at this point and the situation is practically at a dead end,” Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said.

    Ellen Tauscher, the U.S. special envoy for strategic stability and missile defense, insisted the talks about NATO plans for a missile defense system using ground-based interceptor missiles stationed in Poland, Romania and Turkey were not stalemated.

    But she acknowledged Wednesday that the recent elections in Russia and the upcoming elections in the U.S. make it “pretty clear that this is a year in which we’re probably not going to achieve any sort of a breakthrough.”

    She reiterated that the U.S.-built system, still in development, is being designed to shoot down Iranian intermediate-range missiles aimed at Europe, not Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

    Yeah, Yeah, Russia is afraid of missile defense as they always have been since Reagan. And, President Obama and the Democrats in the Congress hate the program.

    Just watch Obama capitulate and Romney to jump all over the President, especially since Obama made those flexibility remarks..

  • Pinboard Links,  The Morning Flap

    The Morning Flap: December 9, 2011

    From the Crystal Ball

    These are my links for December 8th through December 9th:

    • THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL FIELD MAY NOT BE CLOSED – Conventional wisdom is that the Republican presidential field is set, and that it is much too late for a new candidate to enter the race.

      In years past, that would be absolutely correct. Over the last few decades, dozens of primaries and caucuses have been shoe-horned into the opening weeks of the election year, with the tendency on the Republican side for the front-running candidate to score a quick knockout.

      But next year, the arrangement of the primary calendar is much different. It is less condensed at the front, much more loaded with events at the back, with the prospect of a viable, late-starting candidate quite real.

      This is not to say that it will happen, but simply to note that it could. Such a scenario could not have unfolded in 2008, when the early January events were followed in short order by an early February Super Tuesday vote-fest that involved nearly half the country.

      But the elongated layout of the nominating calendar this time provides the opportunity for a late-starting candidate to emerge. Should Mitt Romney stumble badly in the January events in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida, another establishment Republican could enter the race in early February and still compete directly in states with at least 1,200 of the 2,282 or so GOP delegates. Many of them will be up for grabs after April 1 when statewide winner-take-all is possible.

      Similarly, should non-Romney alternatives led by Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry fall flat in the January contests, there would be time for the conservative wing of the party to find a new champion to carry its banner through the bulk of the primary season.

    • The Real G.O.P. Dark Horse: None of the Above – Two of my favorite analysts, Rhodes Cook and Josh Putnam, have a good debate going about just how plausible it is that a Republican who is not currently running for president could enter the race later and potentially win it (probably necessitating a brokered convention). Those of you who follow my Twitter feed will know that I think Mr. Cook has the stronger side of the argument; I think there is a small but nontrivial chance that the Republican nominee could be someone like Jeb Bush, Paul Ryan, Mitch Daniels, Tim Pawlenty or Chris Christie. (In fact, I was speculating about these scenarios as long as a month ago.)

      I’m not going to describe the means by which this would occur; Mr. Cook covers that in great detail. Instead, I’m more interested in the motive.

    • Twitter Halls of Fame and Shame : JIMROMENESKO.COM – Twitter has a way of making heroes and villains of people — those who earn “15 minutes of fame” because of the medium and others (far more of them at this point) who sully their reputations by tweeting before they think. I’ve created two Tumblr blogs to document this cultural phenomenon for posterity:

      Twitter Hall of Fame: http://twitterfame.tumblr.com/
      Twitter Hall of Shame: http://twittershame.tumblr.com/

    • Amazon starts row with retailers in US – – The row has broken out only days after James Daunt, the managing director of Waterstone’s, criticised Amazon – calling it a “ruthless, money-making devil”.

      The new Amazon Price Check app and promotion, which is starting from this Saturday, will allow people to perform a price check on an item in a shop, by scanning in the bar code using the app on their iPhone or Android device. The online retail giant will then offer a $5 discount to shoppers who carry out this market research for it for free, on any item across the site, including the same item they wanted to buy in the first place.

      The American Retail Industry Leaders’ Association issued the following statement about Amazon’s attempt to poach shoppers at the point of sale: “Retailers compete on price 365 days a year, and at no time is that competition hotter than during the make-or-break holiday shopping season. However, by continuing to evade collecting state sales taxes, Amazon’s exploitation of a pre-Internet tax loophole is resulting in a 6-10 percent perceived price advantage over their competitors on Main Street.

    • Trump might scrub his GOP presidential debate – Business mogul Donald Trump said Friday he might scrub a presidential debate that so far has drawn only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.

      Trump, the reality television star who has not ruled out an independent White House bid, had hoped for all of the Republican candidates to join in a debate he would moderate Dec. 27 in Iowa. Most have decided not to, leaving only Gingrich, a former House speaker, and Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator.

      “I have to look into it,” Trump told Fox Business Network when asked whether he would host a two-candidate debate.

      Trump was most indignant about Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann skipping out.

    • Gingrich Is Inspiring—and Disturbing – I had a friend once who amused herself thinking up bumper stickers for states. The one she made up for California was brilliant. “California: It’s All True.” It is so vast and sprawling a place, so rich and various, that whatever you’ve heard about its wildness, weirdness and wonders, it’s true.

      That’s the problem with Newt Gingrich: It’s all true. It’s part of the reason so many of those who know him are anxious about the thought of his becoming president. It’s also why people are looking at him, thinking about him, considering him as president.

      Ethically dubious? True. Intelligent and accomplished? True. Has he known breathtaking success and contributed to real reforms in government? Yes. Presided over disasters? Absolutely. Can he lead? Yes. Is he erratic and unreliable as a leader? Yes. Egomaniacal? True. Original and focused, harebrained and impulsive—all true.

    • NLRB Labor board withdraws Boeing complaint – The National Labor Relations Board has officially dropped its high-profile case challenging Boeing’s decision to open a nonunion plant in South Carolina.

      The move Friday came after the Machinists union approved a 4-year contract extension with Boeing earlier this week and agreed to withdraw its charge that the company violated labor laws.

      Lafe Solomon, the agency’s acting general counsel, says settlement is the outcome he had always preferred. The agency settles about 90 percent of its cases.

      Under the deal, Boeing promised to build the new version of the 737 in Washington state and the Machinists agreed to drop allegations that Boeing opened the South Carolina plant in retaliation for previous strikes.

      Despite intense criticism of the case, Solomon says he was following the law and would do it again.

    • (500) http://flapsblog.com/2011/12/09/flap-twitter-updates-for-2011-12-09-2/ – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-12-09 #tcot #catcot
    • Flap’s Dentistry Blog: The Morning Drill: December 8, 2011 – The Morning Drill: December 8, 2011
    • Putin slams Clinton for encouraging protesters – Prime Minister Vladimir Putin strongly criticized U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday, accusing her of encouraging and funding Russians protesting election fraud, and warned of a wider Russian crackdown on dissent.

      By describing Russia’s parliamentary election as rigged, Putin said Clinton “gave a signal” to his opponents.

      “They heard this signal and with the support of the U.S. State Department began their active work,” Putin said in televised remarks. He said the United States is spending “hundreds of millions” of dollars to influence Russian politics with the aim of weakening a rival nuclear power.

    • Still Not Too Late for Another Candidate – Still Not Too Late for Another Candidate #tcot #catcot #fb
    • President 2012 GOP Poll Watch: Newt Gingrich Surges in 3 Key Battleground States as President Obama Struggles | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012 GOP Poll Watch: Newt Gingrich Surges in 3 Key Battleground States as President Obam… #tcot #catcot
    • California Proposition 8 on Gay Marriage Back in Court Today » Flap’s California Blog – California Proposition 8 on Gay Marriage Back in Court Today
    • News from The Associated Press – RT @AP: Romney campaign switches strategy with broadside against Gingrich, as rival rises in the polls #GOP: -ldh
    • The Morning Flap: December 8, 2011 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – The Morning Flap: December 8, 2011 #tcot #catcot
  • Russia,  Vladimir Putin

    Video of the Day: I Will Tear Off My Clothes for Putin

    Called “Putin’s Army”, it features a video of a blonde student called Diana who struts along Moscow’s streets in high heels and a black suit before scrawling “I will tear my clothes off for Putin” on a white top in red lipstick and starting to undo her clothes

    For an old POL and Cold Warrior, former Russian President Vladimir Putin sure knows how to appeal to the youth vote.

    But, what happens if you don’t vote for him?

  • Barack Obama,  Kim Jong-Il,  North Korea,  Russia

    Shocking: Russia Opposes United Nations Sanctions Against North Korea

    south korea protests

    Anti-North Korea protesters chant slogans at a demonstration to denounce the North’s rocket launch and to demand U.N.’s sanctions against North Korea near the National Assembly in Seoul April 7, 2009. Japan called for a strong response on Tuesday from the U.N. Security Council to North Korea’s rocket launch, which analysts say was a test of a long-range ballistic missile, but Tokyo acknowledged that divisions remained. The yellow banners read, “Support U.N.’s sanctions against North Korea”

    No, it is not shocking.

    Moscow is concerned by Pyongyang’s recent rocket launch, but believes that imposing sanctions against North Korea would be counterproductive, the Russian foreign minister said on Wednesday.

    North Korea launched a multistage rocket that it said was carrying a communications satellite on Sunday morning, defying pressure from the United States, Japan, South Korea and other countries, which suspect the launch was a cover for a test of a Taepodong-2 long-range missile.

    “We are definitely concerned by the recent rocket launch and believe it does not offer grounds for stabilizing the situation in the region,” Sergei Lavrov said, adding that “we also believe that any threat of sanctions would be counterproductive.”

    The 15-member Security Council convened for an emergency meeting late on Sunday at Japan’s request, to discuss sanctions against Pyongyang following the launch, but strong opposition from Russia and China prevented the adoption of even a preliminary statement of condemnation.

    The top Russian diplomat said Moscow will not change its stance concerning proposed sanctions against Pyongyang.

    “We will not change our stance and our position is reflected in all those consensus decisions, which have been made in recent years concerning ways of resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula,” Lavrov said.

    Welcome to the REAL WORLD, President Obama. The Russians may have glad handed you at the recent G-20 economic summit meeting but stab you in the back once they are out of face range.

    So, back to where the United States was with North Korea, except now Kim Jong-Il’s missile program has a successful test of an ICBM with all of those Iranian missile negineers observing and collaborating.

    Obama’s response = FAIL.


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  • Ronald Reagan,  Russia,  Vladimir Putin

    Russia Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Caught in KGB Reagan-Gorbachev Ruse?

    Putin Undercover

    Does this picture show Putin pretending to be a tourist? (pic: Pete Souza)

    You be the judge.

    The 20-year old photo depicts two world leaders – US President Ronald Reagan and the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev – in Moscow.

    But, according to the man who took the photo, it also captures Mr Putin disguised as a tourist.

    Pete Souza, now President Obama’s official photographer, captured the moment when he worked for President Reagan during the political thaw that soon ended the Cold War.

    Mr Reagan took a stroll around Red Square accompanied by the Russian leader, who then introduced him to a group of tourists.

    In an interview, Mr Souza recounted being surprised at the “pointed” questions these supposed tourists asked the US leader.

    They included searching enquiries on the state of human rights in the US.

    The identity of the man on the left of the photo – complete with camera round his neck – was later revealed and “verified” to Mr Souza as none other than Mr Putin.

    Looks like Putin to me.

    But, the Russians deny it – of course.


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  • Hugo Chavez,  Russia,  Venezuela

    Russian Warship To Cross Panama Canal – Will U.S. Navy Provoke?

    russian-battleship-and-hugo

    Flap bets the Russian Navy may be in for a little surprise, no?

    A Russian warship will sail through the Panama Canal this week for the first time since World War II, the navy announced Wednesday, pushing ahead with a symbolic projection of Moscow’s power in a traditional U.S. zone of influence.

    The destroyer Admiral Chabanenko will arrive Friday at a former U.S. naval base in Panama’s Pacific port of Balboa for a six-day visit after carrying out joint maneuvers with the Venezuelan navy in the Caribbean Sea, navy spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo said in a telephone interview.

    The Panama Canal has long been a symbol of U.S. clout in Latin America, and Dygalo said no Soviet or Russian military ship has sailed through it since World War II. The wartime alliance between the U.S. and the Soviet Union swiftly gave way to the mistrust, military buildups and proxy conflicts of the Cold War.

    In a throwback to those times, the Russian navy statement announcing the plans referred to the base the Admiral Chabanenko will visit as Rodman naval base—its name when it was a U.S. base many years ago.

    Rodman was the hub for all U.S. naval activities in South America and supported fleet units transiting the 50-mile (80-kilometer) canal. But control of the facility shifted to Panama a decade ago, and it is now called the Balboa naval base.

    Monday’s joint maneuvers with Venezuela, which brought the Admiral Chabanenko and the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Peter the Great across the Atlantic along with two support ships, were widely seen as a show of Kremlin anger over the U.S. use of warships to deliver aid to Georgia after its August war with Russia.

    Russian warships tailed U.S. ships in the Black Sea, where Russia borders Georgia, on that mission.

    Wow – two big Russian ships crossed the Atlantic to support dictator Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

    Just a reminder to Americans that while the price of gasoline has fallen precipitiously that American Energy indpendence is essential over the next decade.

    Then, we don’t have to fund and deal with these tin-horn tyrants and their totalitarian governments.


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  • Day By Day,  Georgia,  Russia

    Day By Day by Chris Muir August 18, 2008

    daybyday081808

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    The Russians have attempted to strong arm Georgia and have miscalculated using what the West says is “disaproportionate force.”

    “It’s not going to happen that way,” she said. “Russia will pay a price.”

    But neither Rice nor Defense Secretary Robert Gates would be specific about what punitive actions the U.S. or the international community might take.

    At the very least, this Russian adventure in brutality will lead to the admission of Georgia and Ukraine into NATO and the enhancement of national missile defense.

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