Free Republic

Today is the 70th anniversary of President Truman’s decision to bomb Hiroshima. Today is also Jon Stewart’s final appearance as host of The Daily Show. Given the confluence of these two events, I somehow neglected to mention perhaps the daftest thing Stewart ever did during his 16 years host of The Daily Show in my rather brutal assessment of his intelligence and his comedic talents. Remember in 2009 when Stewart told Cliff May, president of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, that President Truman was a war criminal because he dropped the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Long before President Obama waded into the vociferous debate over a mosque near Ground Zero, a group of conservative writers and bloggers critical of Islam had seized on the issue and helped transform it into a national political spectacle. While some have dismissed them as bigoted attention-seekers, their attacks on the proposed Islamic center in Lower Manhattan have gained currency in recent weeks among some Republican leaders. And their influence appears to be growing. They are organizing a Sept. 11 rally against the mosque that will feature former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich. They advise the FBI and other government...

The question posed by social scientist Charles Murray at the American Enterprise Institute's annual dinner this month could hardly have been simpler — Do Americans want the United States to be like Europe? He asked as someone who admires Europe and Europeans. He asked also because it is becoming increasingly apparent that restructuring the United States along the lines of the European social-democratic model is the change many in the new administration - perhaps including President Obama himself - believe in. Mr. Murray is convinced that Europeanizing America is a bad idea, and not only because the European model creates...

The headline on CNN was "Cheney Attacks!" Correspondent Tom Foreman commented that "even in the bare- knuckle world of Washington these days, this was a remarkably sharp attack by the former vice president just weeks into President Obama's term." And how had the former vice president expressed his fabled bellicosity this time? In an interview with Politico.com, he warned that there is a "high probability" that, in the years ahead, terrorists will attempt to use a nuclear or biological weapon to mass-murder Americans. Cheney said he was concerned that the Obama administration may discard some of the policies that have...

Adolf Hitler was evil and perhaps a madman. But throughout history, there have been many evil madmen in many corners of the Earth. Few have attracted millions of passionate followers; fewer still have conquered Europe and committed genocide. So what made Hitler different and — for a time — effective? Start with this short list: He understood propaganda, the dynamics of public-opinion formation, what it takes to persuade; He comprehended the mechanics of mass movements, how to harness the dark desires of restive crowds; And there was nothing — no matter how vile or inhuman — he would not do...

This week, the White House sent around a memo titled: “Senator Harry Reid, Then & Now.” It quoted Reid back in November saying: "We're not going to do anything to limit funding or cut off funds" for Iraq. It then quoted Reid a few days ago saying he would co-sponsor a bill to cut off exactly such funding. The White House’s evident goal here was to highlight Reid’s inconsistency and perhaps even suggest he has broken a solemn promise. But that misses the more salient point: Why has Reid, now Senate majority leader, shifted positions on this key issue? The...

Submit or die: An offer infidels can't refuse? Commentary By CLIFFORD D. MAY Many commentators have noted the apparent irony: The pope suggests Islam encourages violence _ and Muslims riot in protest. Many commentators have pointed out the apparent hypocrisy: Muslims are outraged by cartoons satirizing Islamic extremism while in Muslim countries Christianity and Judaism are attacked viciously and routinely. Many commentators are missing the point: These protestors _ and those who incite them _ are not asking for mutual respect and equality. They are not saying: "It's wrong to speak ill of a religion." They are saying: "It's wrong...

Abu Ghraib was a travesty and a tragedy. It tarnished America's reputation and credibility. It gave ammunition to America's enemies and critics. It set back progress in Iraq. What took place at Abu Ghraib was illegal – and those responsible have been rightly prosecuted and punished. So what is the point of Sen. John McCain's amendment to ban "cruel, inhuman, or degrading" treatment of any prisoner by any agent of the United States? His proposal might be seen as simply sending a message, a way to clean up the mess left by Abu Ghraib -- legislation in the service...

Leakgate prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has finally gotten around to asking Valerie Plame's neighbors if they had any idea that she worked at the CIA. "FBI agents as recently as Monday night interviewed at least two people in her D.C. neighborhood," reports the Washington Post. "The agents were attempting to determine whether the neighbors knew that Plame worked for the CIA before she was unmasked with the help of senior Bush administration officials. Two neighbors said they told the FBI they had been surprised to learn she was a CIA operative." While Plame's occupation may have surprised her two neighbors, others...

New York Times responds to Clifford May column -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scripps Howard News Service (SH) - The following letter by Bill Keller, executive editor of The New York Times, was written in response to a Clifford D. May column that was distributed by Scripps Howard on Oct. 27. Also included is an answer by May to the Keller letter. To the editor: I'm all for freedom of debate, but Scripps Howard owes its subscribers an apology for the commentary it distributed recently under the byline of Clifford D. May. Mr. May - whom you identify as a one-time New York Times...

By Clifford D. May Scripps Howard News Service December 23, 2004 A Battle Between Democracy and Terror; We have Met the Enemy and He Isn't Us When the Army of Ansar al Sunna – a group tied to al Qaeda – attacks an American base near Mosul it should be apparent that Iraq is the front line in the War on Terrorism. When Christian churches are bombed – as they were on the same day and in the same part of Iraq – and Shia mosques in Karbala and Najaf are targeted as well, it should be clear that the...

This morning on CNN Cliff May, a former RNC official and founder and head of the Defense of Democracies Foundation was pitted against some stupid Democratic consultant on the issue of Bernard Kerrik. The two talked about Kerrik then May implied something I did not like. Cliff May said something to the effect that everyone has illegal nannies and the immigration laws are outdated and need to be changed. He went on. Putting two and two together, I gather May is pushing this amnest idea. Amnesty is the exact opposite of what needs to be done. We must continue to...

A guy named Cliff May is WIPING THE FLOOR against some liberal named Laura Drake on Hannity and Colmes! This is great! Later on H and C, Charlie Daniels will perform! Also, Oliver North is in for Sean! This Cliff May guy is great!!!