Richard Cohen agrees on Obama as Jimmy Carter II

I’ve been saying this for a few weeks now; finally, a “mainstream” columnist is picking up on the idea.

Cohen focuses on the two big-ticket ideas of national healthcare and Afghanistan. The nutgraf is at the end:

Unlike Carter, Obama brims with energy and charm. His brilliance is not brittle but supple. Yet, another teachable moment is upon him and he seems lost. The country needs health-care reform and success in Afghanistan, and both efforts are going in the wrong direction. The message needs to be fixed, and so, with some tough introspection, does the man.

Agreed. Agreed. And, again, I saw this as part of his problem more than a year ago.

Radical liberal activist indicted for threats

Activism of this kind is no more welcome from “liberals” than from “conservatives.”

Katyanne Marie Kibby stands accused of threatening former fellow activist Brandon Darby, who became a government informant over allegations an Austin activist group planned to disrupt the 2008 Republican National Convention with things such as Molotov cocktails. Kibby allegedly threatened Darby after his role was revealed.

Anti-Peak Oiler expects $30/bbl oil – hah!

I will eat Mark Lynch’s hat if he is even close to right on this prediction.

Even if your less pessimistic about a nearer-term peak than someone like Matthew Simmons, the idea that oil will fall to $30/bbl, even if you get speculators further removed from the business, is laughable.

Especially since Lynch is counting on more pricey oil shales, not economically viable at $30, to be part of that price reducer, his postulate is simply ridiculous. As are other details he cites in favor, such as pooh-pooh-ing worries over the water "cut" in Saudi wells.

If West Texas Intermediate gets close to, let alone above, $100/bbl in the next 14 months, though, the lack of current Congressional action and Presidential push on commodities speculation regulation will become more glaring, and we will get a bipartisan push for a Band-Aid.

The consolations of religion?

Unlike many people of atheistic or nontheistic bent, I don't deny that religious belief has real, measurable psychological benefits. And, some of those may — or may not — spill over into physical health, too.

Those benefits aren't for me, though. Intellectually, I certainly can't undo the path I've trod. And emotionally, the same afflictions of this life that drive many religious people closer into that psychology, with its benefits for them, are the afflictions of long years of life that led me to a decision that had elements of emotion at the time I made it and has become more strongly emotional since then.

Beyond that, as long as your religious belief doesn't infringe my civil liberties, or those of other people (especially as a class), believe what you want. And, if it offers you consolation, I won't try to argue that away from you.

Another great argument for US parliamentary government

It’s the glacial pace of getting presidential appointments through Senate confirmation. Of course, Obama has some self-blame on tax issues there with some folks!

Seriously, though, things like this, the semi-undemocratic Senate, the corruption of unregulated Congressional campaign finance, short House terms and the “permanent campaign” may all be contributory to the waning of the American imperium.

No, Obama does NOT have hard A-stan choice

Contra the story about US military issues in Afghanistan, there’s an easy one.

Redefine “victory” after the runoff round of the Afghan presidential election. Accept that many Afghans in the military are still unenthusiastic about fighting the Taliban. (Blame Bush for not sending enough troops in the first place, if you want.)

Then, meet the benchmarks for the redefined victory and get the hell out!