Marco Rubio on dithering O: “So if Russia doesn’t care and China doesn’t care and we care but won’t do anything about it, who’s it up to, the French?”

Sen. Marco Rubio questions William J. Burns about President's Obama's "Puzzling Inaction" over Libya at Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the dithering approach to foreign policy and confuses both our allies and our enemies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Brn-7fOGGY

Marco Rubio: “So if Russia doesn’t care and China doesn’t care and we care but won’t do anything about it, who’s it up to, the French?”
Or, "How Obama Turned France Into a Leading World Power" -and saved Nicolas Sarkozy.




Sen. Marco Rubio Questions U.S. Involvement In U.N. "Charade" at confirmation hearing of Joseph Torsella to be U.S. Representative to the United Nations for U.N. Management and Reform. March 16, 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcC0ChGuXSk

Marco Rubio's performance at these Senate Foreign Relations hearings, so many of which I attended when I lived in the D.C. area for almost 15 years, with Jesse Helms or Joe Biden as Comm. Chair, are exactly why I enthusiastically voted for him last November over Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek, neither one of which was capable of doing that in so effective a manner.
So Florida would have a voice for common sense, effectively articulated.
Just like I repeatedly said last year, no?

It's completely impossible for me or any of my friends to think of any time since he's been in the U.S. Senate when 'nice guy' Bill Nelson has said anything nearly as pointed or effectively as what Rubio did twice this week, even when he needed to.
Just saying, compare and contrast.

Next year, my vote for Senate will be FOR people with similar intelligent and articulate views and AGAINST someone who wants to be a U.S. Senator because they think it would be cool.
That completely eliminates most of the announced candidates thus far -Connie Mack IV or the perpetually ethically-challenged Mike Haridopolos.
They are OUT!

And reformer Paula Dockery looks even better qualified than she did before this week.

And please don't publicly call what President Obama does in foreign policy 'dithering' or sleepwalking, call it quiet reflection or walking with his eyes closed -or something else.
To do otherwise hurts his supporter's feelings.
Especially his supporters in the American news media.

-----

USA Today
On Libya, how have global players done?
By Justin Paulette

On the eve of a possible war in Libya, the major players on the world stage have taken their turns and staked out their positions. Yet many players have postured themselves in ways that seem to be reversals of their usual roles. This shift in global strategy is largely the domino effect of a shift in American self-identity under President Obama, and an omen of the future under his new foreign policy for America.

The United Nations: Though espousing lofty principles of international peace and security, the U.N. has largely proved an ineffective millstone around the world's neck over the past half-century. As recently as January 2011, a U.N. report uncritically praised Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi's human rights record.

Read the rest of this Op-Ed at:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2011-03-19-paulette18_ST_N.htm


The American Spectator
How Obama Turned France Into a Leading World Power
By John R. Guardiano on 3.20.11 @ 11:08AM

One of the more sadly amusing spectacles of the American-European-Arab dance over Libya is the complete and utter role-reversal that has taken place. Indeed, the Europeans are leading; the Americans are following; and the Arabs are applauding -- publicly!

Read the rest of this post at:
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/03/20/how-obama-turned-france-into-a


From Krishnan Guru-Murthy writing in Channel 4's Snow Mail this afternoon:

It is now more clear than ever that the Americans are in command of the attacks against Libya. And the coalition is already in trouble tonight with the Arab League chief condemning the airstrikes. The European-led narrative had been executed very well - the French jets got maximum worldwide publicity for leading the onslaught. But shortly afterwards it was American cruise missiles that did the bulk of the work against Libyan air defences. A British submarine and Tornado jets were involved too. This morning the American Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen declared the operation a success. Libya claimed sixty four people had been killed. Russia called for an end to what it called indiscriminate attacks by the coalition. And then a diplomatic bombshell from the Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa - saying he wanted civilians protected not bombed. It is hard to imagine what he thought he was signing up to yesterday in Paris - but by the time he got back to Cairo the tune was different. So it is now down to countries like Qatar and UAE to demonstrate that there is still Arab support for the action - that was a crucial part of the justification of military action for many. Tonight we'll have the latest from Tripoli, Benghazi and beyond.

You can watch the last seven days of Channel 4 News on their catch up player - available on iPhones and iPads too: http://www.channel4.com/news/catch-up/



Channel 4 News Foreign Affairs correspondent Jonathan Miller in Tripoli.
http://bcove.me/jnx5ex02


Channel 4 News Internation editor Lindsey Hilsum in Benghazi
http://bcove.me/ngr3ij6w

--

See also: Congressional Hearings Offer Opportunity for U.N. Budgetary Scrutiny
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/03/Congressional-Hearings-Offer-Opportunity-for-UN-Budgetary-Scrutiny

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/SenatorMarcoRubio
http://www.heritage.org/

Bob Norman zeroes in on Broward School Board; MP's political gaffe on video

Here's the reality we live with now:
In the Coastal Ft. Lauderdale Yellowbook,
the phone number for the "Broward County
School District" is given as 754-321-300.
But when you call that number, you're told that
that number is now the North Central Area office,
except they've now merged with the South office
and are given yet another phone number to call.
Then you are told if you don't know your extension
number, hit # or 411 and an operator will be
right with you. But they won't.
Instead, you get a tape that goes ROUND AND
ROUND like a carousel.
And so it goes at the Broward County School
System.

By the way, I mentioned the other day that Miami
Herald education beat reporter Patricia Mazzei
never stated in her July 31st Herald article who
the four School Board members were who didn't
attend the July 30th meeting, the first budget meeting.

The "draft" of the minutes answers that question.
http://eagenda3.broward.k12.fl.us/eAgenda/1512/Files/07-30-09_1st_public_hearing_budget.pdf

Just so you know, they were Beverly Gallagher,
Phyllis Hope, Benjamin Williams and our own
representative, Ann Murray.

Were they sick, on vacation, at another meeting,
out-of-town for a family wedding...who knows.

As I've previously stated, Murray really needs
to start meeting with the Hallandale Beach and
Hollywood communities in visible ways that she
hasn't so far, and consider creating a website
so that she can get her reform message about
accountability out, such as it is, because right now,
her reform message of last year is completely
muted and she's all but invisible.
Even her friends and supporters know that does
NOT bode well for her re-election prospects
next year.

Murray's is the name that ought to be the one
that's on the tip of people's tongues for zealously
defending the work product of School auditors
-and taxpayers wallets- in anticipation of
Tuesday's School Boar meeting.
Ought to be, but what is she doing?

She's the one who ran on a platform
of fundamentally changing things dramatically
at the Broward School Board, and not
becoming a compliant clone of the existing
members and the pervasive culture of
corruption and cronyism.
Her fate is in her own hands, up to a point,
to be sure, but ultimately, you and I will
decide if she's performed well enough to
be rehired next year.

Broward Palm Beach New Times

Broward School Board Digs Itself Deeper Hole

By Bob Norman

Wednesday, Aug. 12 2009 @ 8:40AM

​If you're really paying attention to the Broward County School Board, you're mad as hell.

Read the rest of the story at:

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2009/08/broward_school_board_digs_itse.php
-----------
London Calling...
Just received this amusing story and video a
few minutes ago in a Snowmail from
Channel Four in England, written by
Krishnan Guru-Murthy

DUNCAN GAFFE
Alan Duncan may just get away with a gaffe which might have done him in had it come at a different point in the political year. The shadow Leader of the House issued a grovelling apology today after being secretly filmed telling a campaigner what he really thinks about the new regime of MPs expenses and pay. He says he was joking, but he not only says MPs are being "treated like shit" but also suggests nobody talented from outside politics would want to be an MP now. Given a GP has just been elected as the Tory candidate to fight for the seat of Totnes, this is a surprising view. Mr Duncan seems safe for now but there is no doubt it is a major embarrassment.
Watch the video: http://bit.ly/xvQqG

URL: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1184614595?bctid=33512746001



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