How the Left Viewed (or Views) Bin Laden's Killers

Real Clear Politics reminds us what the Left was saying about the units that killed Bin Laden.  From Seymour Hersh:

"It's an executive assassination ring essentially, and it's been going on and on and on," Hersh stated. "Under President Bush's authority, they've been going into countries, not talking to the ambassador or the CIA station chief, and finding people on a list and executing them and leaving. That's been going on, in the name of all of us."

In the name of all of us, except those like Hersh, thanks to those "executive assassination rings" for a job well done.
Politics

Bin Laden Dead

As more of the details of the Bin Laden killing come out it looks like we need to extend our congratulations backwards to any of our classmates in particular, and our military, intelligence and political community more broadly, who set the conditions to make the operation successful. Anyone who played a part in the capture and interrogation of KSM that led to the identification of the courier that proved the vital piece of evidence to get Bin Laden deserves our thanks, as well as those who made the difficult decisions to authorize the success of that intelligence-gathering effort in spite of vicious criticism.

It also appears from public accounts of those in the know that some of the changes in procedure made by officers like Stan McChrystal in the early-to-mid 2000s paid dividends long after his departure. I suspect he is the type of guy who doesn't really care whether we thank him or not, and I doubt he gets the call of thanks from this administration, but I believe we should remember his efforts and those of his proteges.

And even those of us who have not been supporters of our current president should be wise enough to extend our congratulations and realize that even though he was given the full plate, he had to make the tough decision. Obama was surely aware that the last time we knew exactly where Bin Laden was (1998) we could not muster the political courage to order his death and the result was Sept. 11th. He most likely did not want to repeat that failure in leadership and while we will learn over time how long he dithered or what conditions were put on the raid, for the time being we owe him a well-done.

Politics

Back in Town

After a nearly 5 year hiatus that involved reentry into the bond trading business to become a first-hand witness to the financial crisis, we have returned to Raleigh with some thoughts and experiences that might be worth sharing. Prior to our departure in 2006 NC was a solid red state, but apparently was swept up in the Hope and Change mantra for a few years before discovering that joining the blue state lineup of bankrupt states IL, CA and NY was an unwise move. Let's see where we can take it from here.
Politics

Closing Up

Due to our recent decision to reenter the bond trading business in New York, I am closing down this site as it will be difficult to be Right in Raleigh when we are not in Raleigh anymore. I have really enjoyed posting and receiving your comments, and for those of you running blogs and keeping an eye on the untrustworthy media, please keep up the good work.

Holiday Break

Traveling for the holidays. Enjoy a Merry Christmas season.

HSAs

The John Locke Foundation examines Health Savings Accounts and finds in favor of these plans. I opened one in 2004 and have been happy with the low premiums and sense that I actually control my health care decisions and can monitor the cost. If any program can lower our health care costs, these HSAs can.
Health Savings Accounts

Truth

For true pictures of the Iraqi election, not what you were offered by the Pandering Pundits of Pessimism, see video at Michael Yon's site here.
Iraqi Election

Keep Talking to Us

I saw most of the president's speech last night (the wife was pissed that it preempted Desperate Housewives), and I agree with the comments of Mary Katherine Hamm at Hugh Hewitt I (HT Mike Williams):

I didn't see it. I read it. It was a good one. I'm not usually wild about presidential speeches because presidents rarely sound like they're just talking to us (and that's what I want to hear) -- just the nature of presidential speech-writing and the fact that they're talking to millions of people at once. Bush is particularly vulnerable to this. He's great when he's just talking to folks; not so great on the soaring speeches of nobleness. Being a war President, however, usually requires the soaring speeches of nobleness.

This one read a little differently. It seemed to strike a balance between the conversational, comfortable Bush we need to assure us and the hard-as-nails, resolved Bush we need to lead a nation at war. Did someone at the White House hear the phrase "fireside chat" as much as I have in the past couple months and take heed?

And I especially like her last bit of advice: I say keep talking to us, President Bush. You're good at it.

Whenever we don't see the president for a while, it seems the news vacuum is filled by the Kennedys and Sharptons and Pelosis of the world. Stay in front of these folks Mr. President, or we are doomed for defeat.
President Bush

Headlines Revisited

After running a number of misleading headlines, the public editor of the N&O, Ted Vaden, decided to address the issue in his Sunday column. He specifically mentioned one of my complaints from earlier in the week, but his explanation was that the headline matched the story, so all is well.

He doesn't note that the story itself was lousy, so matching the headline to the story doesn't really deserve kudos. My request is that the N&O match the headline to the news. The news that day was that the president made a major foreign policy speech in which he commented on a number of important issues regarding Iraq. The headline did not reflect the news, but rather put a negative spin on one minor comment in a multi-paragraph speech.

Politics

Not a Sunshine Patriot

Want to know why a WSJ writer would sign up for the Marines and go to Iraq? Read here about a man who Paine would never call a "summer soldier" or a "sunshine patriot."
Iraq