Russian Red Line
Having drawn a red line in Syria, President Obama was unwilling to take action after Bashar Assad gassed his own people. Putin stepped in to save Barack’s bacon by setting up an inspections regime to remove poison gas from Syria.
Russian Red Line
On Monday at the UN President Putin said Russia would step up its support for Syria. Secretary of State Kerry welcomed the idea hoping Putin would do some of the dirty work needed to beat ISIS. On Wednesday the Russians told the Americans to get out of the way and bombed near Homs. The US says ISIS isn’t in Homs but “moderate” Syrian rebels are.
Now, according to the Telegraph, our new best friends, Iran and Hezbollah, are joining the fight.
Speaking of that red line – in 2013 Obama denied ever setting it. On Tuesday Josh Ernest insisted the president does’t regret setting it.
Emissions from Volkswagen
Reuters reports that Volkswagen will “repair” up to 11 million cars rigged to give misleading emissions info to inspectors. The “fix” will cost $6.5 billion.
Emissions
The evil geniuses at VW figured out a way for its diesel emissions systems to recognize when they were being tested. During a test the system stifles emissions according to government standards. The rest of the time the system turns itself down or off, allowing for great mileage and more power but higher emissions.
Who but the greenest among us is going to want to bring his car in for that repair?
Climate Catholic
Mike Grunwald, in Politico, was surprised the pope didn’t directly mention the climate in his speech to Congress. Instead the Holy Father referred to his 184 page encyclical on climate and capitalism. Gunwald went back and actually read the thing. He found it to be “super weird”:
The pope’s message in Laudato Si is surprisingly gloomy for such an inspiring figure, especially at a time when the world’s largest emitters, the U.S. and China, are cleaning up their own act and leading a push for global reductions in Paris. Pope Francis writes about the dangers of excessive growth, which “leads to the planet being squeezed dry beyond every limit,” but economic growth usually produces better environmental protection, which often seems to be a luxury poor countries can’t afford…
“There is also the fact that most people no longer seem to believe in a happy future,” the pope wrote in Laudato Si.
Aw, Your Holiness, is that really a fact? It really feels like things are starting to get a little better, and may be on path to get a lot better. Have faith.
Pope Fiat
Josh Ernest thinks Francis and Obama are two peas in a pod. Both men believe in social justice and global warming. But it’s hard to imagine King Barack in Fiat. Dennis Miller adds that the Pope drives a Fiat and Obama rules by Fiat.
Scott Walker Snaps Out
Now there are fifteen.
Scott Walker followed the lead of Rick Perry and shut down his campaign. He said we was helping clear the field so a positive conservative message can rise to the top. Supporters thought he would be the one to deliver that message. Between the Donald and the other candidates in the debates he couldn’t get a word in edgewise.
There are other views.
Michael Barone thinks the Republican party now appeals to people beyond traditional conservatives, libertarians, and evangelicals. That might explain Trump, Fiorina, and Carson. And the demise of Walker.
Mark Steyn called him a “performing seal”.
