Quote Of The Week: The End Of PlameGate

From the WashingtonPost.com:

WE'RE RELUCTANT to return to the subject of former CIA employee Valerie Plame because of our oft-stated belief that far too much attention and debate in Washington has been devoted to her story and that of her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, over the past three years. But all those who have opined on this affair ought to take note of the not-so-surprising disclosure that the primary source of the newspaper column in which Ms. Plame's cover as an agent was purportedly blown in 2003 was former deputy secretary of state Richard L. Armitage.

Mr. Armitage was one of the Bush administration officials who supported the invasion of Iraq only reluctantly. He was a political rival of the White House and Pentagon officials who championed the war and whom Mr. Wilson accused of twisting intelligence about Iraq and then plotting to destroy him. Unaware that Ms. Plame's identity was classified information, Mr. Armitage reportedly passed it along to columnist Robert D. Novak "in an offhand manner, virtually as gossip," according to a story this week by the Post's R. Jeffrey

Smith, who quoted a former colleague of Mr. Armitage.

It follows that one of the most sensational charges leveled against the Bush White House -- that it orchestrated the leak of Ms. Plame's identity to ruin her career and thus punish Mr. Wilson -- is untrue. The partisan clamor that followed the raising of that allegation by Mr. Wilson in the summer of 2003 led to the appointment of a special prosecutor, a costly and prolonged investigation, and the indictment of Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, on charges of perjury. All of that might have been avoided had Mr. Armitage's identity been known three years ago.

The silence from the Left is deafening.

What Happened To The Male Teacher?

Thomas Dee, associate professor of economics at Swarthmore College and visiting scholar at Stanford University, has released a study that suggests that students learn better from a teacher of the same sex.

About 80% of teachers in America right now are female, and roughly the same percentage applies in Canada. I find that to be pretty alarming especially considering that while the teaching profession has always had more women than men, never would I have thought it be that one-sided.

Personally, I feel that a relatively equal balance of males and females should be represented in our schools. Plus, tho' the concept of "role models" starts at home, there is still a valid argument to be waged in favor of having them in schools as well; then too the importance of the innate understanding and empathy that exists between members of the same sex.

Of course, this is common sense, and God forbid, that should ever prevail in these "modern" times.

As we watch women's advocacy groups and liberals advocate the need for girls-only schools under the false banner that they help girls . . .

My biggest question is:

Why are men not entering the teaching profession any more?

And my other questions are:

What should we do to encourage men to enter? Should there be a hiring quota, similar to that in every other field which is disproportionately balanced against, say, women?

Or do we just stay silent and accept the liberal view that supports and caters to the feminization of boys?

Star Parker Slams Spike Lee's Katrina Documentary

In case you didn't know controversial director Spike Lee has a new documentary out on HBO covering Hurricane Katrina and the tremendous effects it had on the citizens and city of New Orleans. Of course, Spike. who has become well-known for his brand of racy rhetoric, coverage of touchy subjects and mixed messages within his films, is receiving a lot of critical acclaim for his 4-part documentary from the usual suspects on the Left, but noted columnist Star Parker has her own take on "When The Levees Broke" that's pretty different from what you've probably seen or read. (Hat tip: Booker Rising)

Says Ms. Parker:

Spike Lee took his cameras and crew to New Orleans to film a documentary about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. The four-hour production, which aired on HBO, is, unfortunately, about as destructive as was the disaster it depicts.

At a time when we need light and understanding, Lee has delivered darkness, anger and hatred. Those who will be hurt the most by the distorted and untruthful picture that Lee has concocted are the poor blacks he purports to want to help.

It's clear that Lee did not go to Louisiana in search of truth. He went to Louisiana to carefully construct a documentary that would support the conclusion he had already reached. That conclusion: poor blacks suffered and died as result of the indifference of a detached and racist Bush administration in general and President Bush in particular.

The film commits egregious journalistic sins of commission and omission, carefully selecting and editing footage to indict Bush, including only commentators who support the conclusions that Lee had already reached, and selectively omitting reams of information relevant to the complex truth of what actually happened.

Since Lee already knew the truth, he didn't have much need to examine material such as "A Failure of Initiative," Congress' investigation into Katrina, which shows failure and breakdown at all levels of government _ local, state and federal. It also was of little interest to Lee that primary responsibility for disaster preparation and management is at the level of local and state government, not federal.

But New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin comes off in the production as just one cool dude. He shows up at regular intervals over the four-hour production, talking New Orleans jive and being one straightforward sincere guy who was trying to do his job.

No mention is made of the hurricane simulations and emergency evacuation plans that he totally ignored. No reference is made to the famous picture of the parking lot filled with flooded school buses that Nagin chose not to use to evacuate residents in poor areas.

Central to the Katrina story is the failure of the levees. Indeed, Lee's film is called "When the Levees Broke."

But who is responsible for ignoring the warnings over the years that the levees protecting New Orleans were inadequate? Bush? Of course not.

It was Louisiana's congressional delegation that was responsible to ensure that their constituents' interests were being represented and that funds were being appropriated to fix sub-standard levees. But not a single Louisiana senator or congressman is ever mentioned or appears in "When the Levees Broke."

Katherine Harris Didn't Say Anything Wrong

Since liberalism relies so much on the idea that individualism outweighs moral responsibility, it's no surprise that the Left would get a bit upset about comments made by former Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris in a religious journal recently:

Separation of church and state is "a lie we have been told," Harris said in the interview, published Thursday, saying separating religion and politics is "wrong because God is the one who chooses our rulers."

"If you're not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin," Harris said.

Her comments drew criticism, including some from fellow Republicans who called them offensive and not representative of the party.

Granted, the Republican party should never be held up as some sort of authority on God, morals or Christianity, it's still a bit surprising that some members of the GOP would side with the hypocritical libs and join in on the Harris hatefest. Then too, proving that the old adage of "what have you done for me lately" still holds true, the GOP sold out on Harris awhile ago. Yet, proving that once again that they're nothing but a gang of mental midgets who feast in double standards, is it any wonder that the Left stayed silent when DNC leader Howard Dean compared Harris to Josef Stalin not too long ago?

Dean hasn't apologized and neither should Katherine Harris.

Stupid Liberal Of The Week

Barbara Streisand, who just announced her next "farewell" tour to be launched in October, could be getting sued by a group of fans who feel betrayed, having bought tickets for her last farewell tour in 2000.